Large-Print Bible Crosswords: What to Look For

You look up the verse to settle a clue, and your Bible says something different. Or the clues are printed so small that you give up halfway down the page. Those two problems spoil a lot of Bible crosswords, and you can check for both before you print or buy.

What makes a Bible crossword clue fair?

A fair clue can be settled with an open Bible. Look for:

• A reference on every clue, such as (Genesis 1:3), so the solver knows exactly where to look.
• Answers that are words in that verse. Then nobody needs outside trivia, and a stuck solver can always find the answer.
• One named translation. Translations word verses differently, so a clue quoted from one may not work in another. The puzzle should say which translation it quotes.
• Letter counts, such as (5), after each clue.
• Clues that report the text, not a doctrine. A puzzle is a reading activity, and plain clues keep it welcoming to readers from different churches.

A quick test: pick three clues at random and look them up. If an answer is not in the cited verse, expect more of the same.

Which Bible translation works best for crossword clues?

Use one translation for every quoted clue and name it on the page. Modern English is easier for many solvers. Anyone who makes puzzles also needs the right to print the text they quote. The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) has no permission hurdle: its publishers dedicated the text to the public domain on April 30, 2023, and state that all uses are freely permitted (Berean Bible: Terms and Conditions). If your family or group reads another translation, check that translation's own copyright page before you copy verses.

How big should large print be for puzzles?

APH VisionAware says the standard size for large print is 18 point, and that bold black print on a matte white or cream background is easiest to read. It also suggests avoiding italics and all capital letters (APH VisionAware: Reading with Low Vision). For a crossword, check three things:

• Clue text at about 16 to 18 point or more
• Grid squares big enough to write a letter with a pencil, with clue numbers you can still read inside them
• Printer setting at actual size or 100%, not "fit to page," which can shrink everything

How do you match a Bible crossword to the solver?

• Easy puzzles use the best-known stories (Creation, Noah, David and Goliath), shorter words, and more clues that quote the verse with a blank for the answer.
• Standard puzzles cover longer passages, with longer words and more clues that describe what happens.
• On a visit or a quiet afternoon, solve one puzzle side by side with a Bible open on the table. Pencil first, since crossing letters fix mistakes.
• An answer key in large print, one puzzle to a page, saves squinting at a tiny grid to check one word.

Can you make your own Bible crossword?

Yes, for a small set. Choose one passage. List 10 to 15 words that appear in it, and write a clue for each that ends with its verse reference and letter count. Build the grid on graph paper or with a free crossword maker. Then check every answer against the verse before you print, and put the answer key on a separate page.

If you would rather print one that's ready: Large-Print Bible Crosswords, Vol. 1 has 30 interlocking puzzles on 30 passages, from Creation to Revelation 21, with 15 Easy and 15 Standard. A script checked all 405 answers against the cited verse in both the King James Version and the Berean Standard Bible, and quoted clues use the BSB. All text is 16 point or larger, and the answer key is large print, one puzzle to a page. It's a 96-page US Letter PDF to print at home for yourself and your household. $4.99 on Gumroad or Etsy.

General information. Crosswords are a reading and word activity. The clues report what the text says and do not teach or argue for any doctrine or denomination.

Updated 2026-10-20.