20 Verses · World English Bible
20 Bible Verses for Advent
Advent is the four weeks of waiting before Christmas, and waiting is exactly what these Advent Bible verses are about. For centuries the church has set this season apart — not to hurry toward the manger, but to stand for a while where Israel stood: in the dark, holding onto promises, watching for light. The prophets spoke of a child, a righteous Branch, a messenger preparing the way. Advent asks us to hear those promises again as if we did not yet know how the story ends, so that Christmas can land with its full weight of fulfillment.
The readings below follow the shape many churches give the season: one section for the prophecies of the promised coming, then one for each candle of the Advent wreath — hope, peace, joy, and love. Read a section each week, aloud if you can, perhaps as you light the candle. Advent also looks forward: the same Lord who came in Bethlehem has promised to come again, and several of these passages hold both comings in view. If a single theme takes hold of you along the way, we have whole pages of verses about hope, joy, love, and patience — this page is for the season that gathers them all.
The Promised Coming: Prophecies of Advent
Advent begins centuries before Bethlehem. Isaiah saw a child with the government on his shoulders, a shoot from Jesse's stump. Jeremiah promised a righteous Branch; Malachi, a messenger preparing the way. Read these first — the candles only make sense in the light of these promises.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.”
“For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will perform this.”
“A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse,and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit. The LORD’s Spirit will rest on him:the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight will be in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by the sight of his eyes,neither decide by the hearing of his ears; but he will judge the poor with righteousness,and decide with equity for the humble of the earth.He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. Righteousness will be the belt around his waist,and faithfulness the belt around his waist.”
““Behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah. “In those days and at that time,I will cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David. He will execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved,and Jerusalem will dwell safely.This is the name by which she will be called:The LORD our righteousness.””
““Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me! The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Behold, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, is coming!” says the LORD of Armies.”
Hope: The First Candle of Advent
The first candle remembers Israel's long hope — watchmen longing for morning, a voice calling for a highway in the wilderness. For us it also leans forward, toward the blessed hope of Christ's return. If waiting is where you live right now, our verses about hope and patience go deeper.
“The voice of one who calls out,“Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. Every valley shall be exalted,and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. The LORD’s glory shall be revealed,and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.””
“I wait for the LORD.My soul waits. I hope in his word. My soul longs for the Lord more than watchmen long for the morning,more than watchmen for the morning.”
“Again, Isaiah says,“There will be the root of Jesse,he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
“looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,”
Peace: The Second Candle of Advent
The prophets did not promise a vague calm; they promised a person. Micah says plainly that he himself will be our peace, and Zechariah sings of the dawn from on high that guides our feet into the way of peace. These readings root peace in who is coming, not in quiet circumstances.
“He shall stand, and shall shepherd in the strength of the LORD,in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. They will live, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth. He will be our peace when Assyria invades our landand when he marches through our fortresses, then we will raise against him seven shepherds, and eight leaders of men.”
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,who publishes peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!””
“because of the tender mercy of our God,by which the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.””
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”
Joy: The Third Candle of Advent
Midway through Advent many churches light a pink candle and tell everyone to rejoice. These passages show why: God himself rejoices over his people with singing, Mary's spirit rejoices in God her Savior, and angels announce good news of great joy for all the people.
“The LORD, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.”
“Then the LORD’s ransomed ones will return,and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads.They will obtain gladness and joy,and sorrow and sighing will flee away.””
“Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for he has looked at the humble state of his servant.For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.”
“The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christthe Lord.”
Love: The Fourth Candle of Advent
The last candle names the reason beneath the whole season. God did not send his Son because we loved him first; he sent him because he loved us. In the fullness of time, love took action. Our page of verses about love follows this thread further.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only bornSon, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.”
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.”
“By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his only bornSon into the world that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrificefor our sins.”
A Prayer About Advent
Father, teach us to wait well this Advent. We confess how quickly we rush past the promises to the celebration; slow us down. As we light each candle, kindle in us the hope of your coming, the peace of your presence, the joy of your salvation, and the love that sent your Son. Keep us watchful like those who long for the morning, and ready for the day when Christ appears again. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our promised King. Amen.
Common Questions
When does Advent start in 2026?
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which always falls between November 27 and December 3, and it runs through Christmas Eve. In 2026, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29. The word comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming" or "arrival" — the season looks back to Christ's birth in Bethlehem and forward to his promised return.
What do the four Advent candles stand for?
Many traditions assign the candles to hope, peace, joy, and love, lit one by one on the four Sundays of Advent. Three are typically purple or blue, the colors of waiting and repentance; the third, for joy, is often pink, marking a lighter note midway through the season. Many wreaths add a white Christ candle in the center, lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
How do I use these verses as Advent scripture readings?
A simple plan: read the prophecy section in the days before Advent begins or alongside week one, then take one candle section each week — hope, peace, joy, love. Read a passage aloud when you light the wreath. The verses display in full from the World English Bible, so this page works as a reading plan for families, small groups, or quiet mornings alone.
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