Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, and people lay clothes and branches along the way, shouting “Hosanna!”. A few days later, the same city cries, “Crucify him!”. Here you will find 20 Bible verses for Palm Sunday.
The Entry into Jerusalem
This is how the Gospels describe Palm Sunday.
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But you, daughter Zion, rejoice greatly; and you, daughter Jerusalem, shout for joy! Look, your king comes to you, righteous and saving, lowly, riding on a donkey and a young colt, the colt of a lowly donkey.
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“Say to the daughter of Zion: Look, your king comes, gentle and riding on a donkey and on the colt of a lowly donkey.”
Matthew 21:5Gentleness
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But many people spread their clothes along the road; others cut branches from the trees and strewed them along the road.
Matthew 21:8
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But the people who went before and followed after shouted and said: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
Matthew 21:9
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And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and said: Who is this? But the people said: This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.
Matthew 21:10-11
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And those who went before and followed after shouted and said: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
Mark 11:9-10
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And they said: Blessed is he who comes, a king, in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!
Luke 19:38
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He answered them and said: I tell you, where these who are silent will not speak, the stones will cry out.
Luke 19:40
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And as he approached, he looked at the city and wept over it, saying: If only you knew at this time of yours what brings peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.
Luke 19:41-42
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They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!
John 12:13
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His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that it had been written about him and that they had done this for him.
John 12:16
The King Who Is Different
Verses about a king who serves instead of ruling.
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Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you, who are from the house of the Lord.
Psalm 118:26
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Open wide the gates; lift up the lintels, that the King of Glory may enter!
Psalm 24:7Advent
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This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24First CommunionJoy
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For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as ransom for many.
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He humbled himself and became obedient to death—yes, to death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8CrucifixionObedience
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Jesus answered them: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from there.
John 18:36Kingdom of God
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After this I saw, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white and holding palm branches in their hands, shouting with a loud voice and saying: Blessed is he who sits on the throne, our God, and the Lamb!
Revelation 7:9-10
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Behold, the Lord is heard to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion: Look, your salvation is coming! Look, his reward is with him, and his recompense is before him!
Isaiah 62:11
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Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29HumilityGentleness
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
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What Does Palm Sunday Mean?
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, which is recounted in all four Gospels. John explicitly mentions palm branches (John 12:13)—hence the name. The people welcome Jesus as a king and shout “Hosanna,” a Hebrew phrase that originally meant “Help!” and had become a shout of celebration. In Catholic parishes, palm branches or boxwood wreaths are blessed on this day.
A King on a Donkey
Jesus deliberately chooses a donkey rather than a horse. In doing so, he fulfills the prophet Zechariah’s prophecy: “Look, your king comes to you, righteous and saving, lowly, riding on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). A horse was the animal of warriors, while the donkey was the animal of peace. Palm Sunday therefore foreshadows the path that follows: not the seizure of power, but self-giving. Holy Week continues with Bible verses about the Last Supper and Bible verses about Good Friday, leading up to Bible verses about Easter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Palm Sunday called that?
According to John 12:13, people took palm branches and went out to meet Jesus. This is what the name of the Sunday before Easter commemorates.
What does Hosanna mean?
Hosanna is Hebrew and originally meant “Help!” or “Save us!”. In Jesus’ time, it was a shout of celebration and homage.
