The best Bible verses for palm sunday include passages about God's love, strength, and guidance. This page features 15+ carefully curated Scripture passages for palm sunday, each selected for its relevance and depth. Read, save, and share the perfect verse for your situation.
"The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”"Matthew 21:9
"The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”"Matthew 21:9
"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."Zechariah 9:9
"They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”"John 12:13
"Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”"Mark 11:9
"“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”"Luke 19:38
"“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”"Matthew 21:5
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you."Psalms 118:26
"“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”"John 12:15
"A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road."Matthew 21:8
"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"Philippians 2:8
"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."Isaiah 53:3
"Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in."Psalms 24:7
"The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem."John 12:12
Occasions ask something specific of scripture. A verse chosen for palm sunday is usually going to be read aloud, printed in a program, or spoken to someone at a moment they will remember for a long time — which rules out passages that need three sentences of setup before they land.
These 15 are the verses most often chosen for palm sunday, and they are chosen for good reason: each one makes sense on first hearing, carries its meaning without commentary, and speaks to the moment rather than around it.
Receive a curated verse every morning — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
The most-cited Bible verses for palm sunday are Matthew 21:9, Zechariah 9:9, John 12:13. This page collects 15 of them, each with its full passage, context and the text in six translations.
Read the verse in its surrounding passage before you use it — a verse that fits in isolation sometimes says something different in context. Compare two translations where the wording is unclear, and pick for the person who will read it rather than for the theme.
Scripture returns to palm sunday across both testaments rather than settling it in one passage, which is why the verses on this page do not all say the same thing. Read together they give a fuller answer than any single verse does.
There is no single best translation. The NIV and NLT read most naturally and communicate well to someone outside the church; the ESV and NASB stay closer to the original wording; the KJV carries the phrasing most people recognise. Every verse here links to a page showing all six side by side.
More than any page can list. This one carries the 15 that are most often turned to for palm sunday, chosen so each stands on its own and links through to the full chapter it belongs to.