Understanding and Using the June Newman Davis Scripture Keys System
The June Newman Davis Scripture Keys is a cross-referencing system for Bible study that organizes scripture by topical index rather than by book and chapter. It was developed by June Newman Davis over several decades of manual research and published in compiled volumes. Unlike standard Bible reference tools that rely solely on verse-to-verse citations, this system groups references under thematic headings so you can trace biblical concepts across the entire canon from a single entry point. The core reference set consists of several bound volumes. The main index volume organizes thousands of topics alphabetically, each accompanied by scriptural citations from both the Old and New Testaments. The companion topical volumes arrange scripture passages themselves under subject headings. The complete set typically runs around six to eight books depending on the edition you own or acquire. Here is how most people actually use these volumes in practice. You pick a topic you want to study — say, forgiveness, or stewardship, or anxiety — and look it up alphabetically in the index volume. Each heading gives you a dense block of references. You then pull your personal Bible and read the cited passages in their original context. This is the fundamental workflow. It sounds simple because it is simple, but it is also where people make mistakes that waste time.
The most common mistake I see is treating the reference list as a substitute for reading the passages themselves. The keys are an indexing tool, not a commentary. A citation like "Proverbs 11:1; 16:11; 20:23" tells you where to look, not what to conclude. Reading those verses in their full context before drawing any theological connections is essential. The index volume has no explanatory text beyond the references themselves. That is by design. I spent years using this system and encountered a specific problem that took me months to resolve properly. The alphabetical headings sometimes buried topics under unexpected categories. If you were researching the concept of "healing," the index might route you to "physician" or "medicine" or "sickness" rather than a direct "healing" heading depending on the edition. I learned to cross-reference multiple related topic entries before accepting that I had found everything relevant. For example, searching "sorrow" would also require checking "affliction," "trouble," and "grief" as adjacent headings. This expansion step typically adds fifteen to twenty minutes per research session but catches references the primary heading alone would miss. Another practical detail worth noting is the citation format. The June Newman Davis Scripture Keys uses abbreviated book names and ranges. Entries like "Isa 40:28-31; Jer 17:7-10; Matt 11:28-30" follow a consistent pattern, but the abbreviation style varies between editions. Some printings use "Gen" for Genesis while others use "Ge." This inconsistency matters when you are working with multiple editions simultaneously because you need to map the abbreviations correctly to your personal Bible, which likely uses a different abbreviation standard. I keep a printed abbreviation key from one edition taped inside my main volume as a quick lookup reference.
The system does have genuine limitations that are worth stating plainly. First, the topical arrangement means you cannot do quick lookups by chapter or verse the way you can with a standard concordance or digital Bible software. If someone tells you a specific verse and you need to find what topic it falls under, you cannot reverse-search efficiently. The index is alphabetical by topic, not by scripture location. This is a structural constraint, not a defect, but it is limiting if your research style is verse-driven rather than theme-driven. Second, the coverage reflects the editorial choices of Davis and her team. Some topics receive extensive treatment while others are sparse or entirely absent. Modern scholarship and theological concerns that emerged after the publication dates of these volumes are not represented. If you are researching subjects like creation care, trauma-informed pastoral care, or modern ethical questions, you will find substantial gaps. The system is not designed for contemporary topical theology. A third limitation is portability. The complete set weighs approximately twelve to fifteen pounds and requires significant shelf space. Many people who use this system only consult it in a fixed location like a home study or church office. It is not practical for personal devotional use on the go, unlike a single-volume topical Bible or a digital reference tool. I recommend keeping the index volume in your primary study space and using a smaller topical Bible or digital app when traveling or doing casual reading.
Get the Full Details
For people who want the complete physical set, the volumes are available through Christian book distributors and occasionally through used book channels. Major Christian retailers carry new printings. The set includes the index volume plus the topical arrangement volumes. Prices typically range from one hundred to two hundred fifty dollars depending on the edition and retailer. Some seminaries and church libraries carry reference copies that students can use on-site even if purchasing the full set is not feasible. If you are building a Bible study reference collection and you primarily work topically, the June Newman Davis Scripture Keys remains one of the more comprehensive print-based options available. It is not the only option, and it is not the best option for every use case. Digital Bible software with topical search capabilities has closed much of the gap at a fraction of the cost and weight. But for people who prefer physical volumes and want a thoroughly compiled topical index that was refined over decades of manual work, these keys still hold genuine value. The key is understanding what the system does well and where it falls short before you invest time and space in it.
