This Palm Sunday, celebrate the triumphant arrival of Jesus with these beautiful Bible verses. Whether you’re looking for readings to follow along during church or simply want to reflect on scripture, these passages are perfect for commemorating this holy day.
Popular Palm Sunday Bible Readings
John 12:13 John the Apostle describes how the people cried out “Hosanna!” when Christ Jesus came into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday in this Bible quote.
John 12:13
(ESV) So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
(KJV) Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
(MSG) They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God’s name! Yes! The King of Israel!
(NIV) 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!”
(NLT) took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!”
Zechariah 9:9 The Prophet Zechariah says the King of Zion would enter Jerusalem on a young donkey in this classic Palm Sunday scriptures reading.
Zechariah 9:9
(ESV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
(KJV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
(MSG) “Shout and cheer, Daughter Zion! Raise the roof, Daughter Jerusalem! Your king is coming! a good king who makes all things right, a humble king riding a donkey, a mere colt of a donkey.
(NIV) Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
(NLT) Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.
Matthew 21:5 Matthew the Apostle quotes the Zechariah Bible verse about Jesus Christ riding the donkey on Palm Sunday during his Triumphant Entry.
Matthew 21:5
(ESV) “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
(KJV) Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
(MSG) Tell Zion’s daughter, “Look, your king’s on his way, poised and ready, mounted On a donkey, on a colt, foal of a pack animal.”
(NIV) “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'”
(NLT) “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’”
Luke 19:38 Luke the Evangelist records how the people called out in praise of Jesus as the King when he entered Jerusalem in this Palm Sunday Scripture.
Luke 19:38
(ESV) saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
(KJV) Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
(MSG) Blessed is he who comes, the king in God’s name! All’s well in heaven! Glory in the high places!
(NIV) “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
(NLT) “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”
John 12:9-19 The Triumphal Entry King James Version Bible Passage
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, (John 12:12 KJV)
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. (John 12:13 KJV)
And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, (John 12:14 KJV)
Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. (John 12:15 KJV)
These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. (John 12:16 KJV)
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. (John 12:17 KJV)
For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. (John 12:18 KJV)
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. (John 12:19 KJV)
Mark 11:1-11 Palm Sunday Bible Verses in the English Standard Bible Translation
The Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples (Mark 11:1 ESV)
and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. (Mark 11:2 ESV)
If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” (Mark 11:3 ESV)
And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. (Mark 11:4 ESV)
And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” (Mark 11:5 ESV)
And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. (Mark 11:6 ESV)
And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. (Mark 11:7 ESV)
And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. (Mark 11:8 ESV)
And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! (Mark 11:9 ESV)
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:10 ESV)
And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. (Mark 11:11 ESV)
Matthew 21:1-11 Story of Jesus Christ on Palm Sunday New Living Translation Scripture Passage
Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem
As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. (Matthew 21:1 NLT)
“Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. (Matthew 21:2 NLT)
If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” (Matthew 21:3 NLT)
This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, (Matthew 21:4 NLT)
“Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’” (Matthew 21:5 NLT)
The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. (Matthew 21:6 NLT)
They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. (Matthew 21:7 NLT)
Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. (Matthew 21:8 NLT)
Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9 NLT)
The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. (Matthew 21:10 NLT)
And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:11 NLT)
Palm Sunday Bible Verses Luke 19:28-44 New International Version Bible Passage
The Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday Scriptures
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. (Luke 19:28 NIV)
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, (Luke 19:29 NIV)
“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. (Luke 19:30 NIV)
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.'” (Luke 19:31 NIV)
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. (Luke 19:32 NIV)
As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” (Luke 19:33 NIV)
They replied, “The Lord needs it.” (Luke 19:34 NIV)
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. (Luke 19:35 NIV)
As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. (Luke 19:36 NIV)
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: (Luke 19:37 NIV)
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38 NIV)
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” (Luke 19:39 NIV)
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40 NIV)
Luke 19:28-44 Palm Sunday King James Version Bible Verses
The Triumphant Entry according to Luke the Evangelist in his Synoptic Gospel.
And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. (Luke 19:28 KJV)
And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, (Luke 19:29 KJV)
Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. (Luke 19:30 KJV)
And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. (Luke 19:31 KJV)
And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. (Luke 19:32 KJV)
And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? (Luke 19:33 KJV)
And they said, The Lord hath need of him. (Luke 19:34 KJV)
And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. (Luke 19:35 KJV)
And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. (Luke 19:36 KJV)
And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; (Luke 19:37 KJV)
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. (Luke 19:38 KJV)
And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. (Luke 19:39 KJV)
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. (Luke 19:40 KJV)
FAQ about Palm Sunday in the Scriptures
Palm Sunday is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. In the Gospel of John, it is referred to as “the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey” (12:12-19). In the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the event is described as taking place on “the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread” (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44).
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, days before his crucifixion. As Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, the people who were there welcomed him by waving palm branches and spreading their cloaks on the road. In biblical accounts, this event is seen as a sign that Jesus was the Messiah, who would eventually overthrow Israel’s oppressors and restore justice. Palm Sunday is often celebrated with processions or parades in which participants carry palm branches or wave them in celebration.
Palm Sunday is the day that Christians celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. According to the Bible, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey while crowds of people waved palm branches and shouted Hosanna! This event happened just a week before Jesus was crucified.