bible verses for advent

Bible Verses for Advent: 15 Scriptures

Bible verses for Advent: 15 Scriptures on waiting for the Lord, hope that renews strength, and love that comes near, with plain notes and links.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 28, 20265 min readIsaiah 40:31 (NIV)

A figure with a lamp walks a ridge path as dawn light arrives among wildflowers.

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

— Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

People who search bible verses for Advent want Scripture for the waiting weeks before Christmas — hope that is not impatience in religious clothes, strength renewed while you wait, and love that is coming (and has already come). This page is a numbered list of fifteen passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about hope, Bible verses for Christmas, Bible verses about faith, and Love and hope.

Word study (lead verse). In Isaiah 40:31 those who qavah — wait / hope / look eagerly — on the Lord renew strength. From Hebrew קָוָה (Strong's H6960): a stretched waiting that expects God, not a shrug. Advent practices that kind of waiting. See also Bible Hub H6960.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 40:27-31 reproves unbelief and distrust, and then comforts: where God has begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. "He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves." Waiting on the Lord is not passivity that refuses to move; it is dependence that expects God to renew strength for the walk (Bible Hub commentaries on Isaiah 40:31; fuller MHC on the chapter at Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Isaiah 40).

15 Bible verses for Advent

  1. Isaiah 40:31. "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…" Advent waiting is hopeful dependence — strength renewed for walking, not only for soaring. See Bible verses about hope.

  2. Isaiah 9:6. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…" Advent looks toward the child already promised — Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. See Bible verses for Christmas.

  3. Isaiah 7:14. "…The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Waiting for Christmas is waiting for "God with us."

  4. Micah 5:2. "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small…" Advent remembers that God's coming often looks small before it looks mighty.

  5. Luke 1:46-49. "…My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior… for the Mighty One has done great things for me…" Mary's waiting turns into praise before the birth is finished.

  6. Luke 2:25-32. Simeon was "waiting for the consolation of Israel" — and then held the child. Advent waiting can end in recognition: this is the One. See Bible verses about peace.

  7. Romans 13:11-12. "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber… The night is nearly over; the day is almost here." Advent is also alertness — waking, not drifting.

  8. Titus 2:11-13. "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people… while we wait for the blessed hope — the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Advent holds two appearings: grace already appeared; glory still ahead.

  9. Psalm 27:14. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Waiting twice named — strength and courage in the middle. See Bible verses about strength.

  10. Habakkuk 2:3. "For the revelation awaits an appointed time… Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." God's timing can feel slow; it is not forgotten.

  11. Lamentations 3:25-26. "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Quiet waiting is still seeking. See Bible verses about faith.

  12. John 1:9-12. "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world… Yet to all who did receive him… he gave the right to become children of God." Advent light is for receiving, not only admiring. See Bible verses about God's love.

  13. Philippians 4:4-5. "Rejoice in the Lord always… The Lord is near." Nearness is an Advent word — joy because he is near, not only because December is pretty. See Bible verses about joy.

  14. Revelation 22:20. "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." The church's Advent prayer is still "Come."

  15. 1 Corinthians 13:7. "It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Love keeps hoping through the wait. See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Love and hope.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for an Advent calendar day, a candle lighting, or a quiet morning — not fifteen. If you need strength while you wait, start with Isaiah 40:31 or Psalm 27:14. If you need the promised child in view, start with Isaiah 9:6 or Isaiah 7:14. If you need the double horizon of grace already and glory still ahead, start with Titus 2:11-13. For Christmas readings, see Bible verses for Christmas. For hope and faith lists, see Bible verses about hope and Bible verses about faith. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse for Advent?

Isaiah 40:31 (hope that renews strength) and Titus 2:13 (waiting for the blessed hope) are clear starting places. Isaiah 9:6 keeps the promised child in view.

What Bible verse is about waiting on God?

Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31, Habakkuk 2:3, and Lamentations 3:25-26 all speak to waiting that trusts God's timing.

What Scripture fits lighting an Advent candle?

Isaiah 9:6, John 1:9, and Philippians 4:4-5 ("the Lord is near") work well spoken as a candle is lit. Pair with a short prayer: "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

What is the difference between Advent and Christmas readings?

Advent leans on waiting, hope, and promise (Isaiah, Simeon, Titus 2). Christmas leans on the birth announced and accomplished (Luke 2, John 1:14). Many verses serve both; this page keeps the wait in the foreground. See Bible verses for Christmas.

Read Bible verses for Christmas, Bible verses about hope, and Love and hope. For faith that waits, see Bible verses about faith.

Explore More

Sources

A woman with a lamp walks a ridge path at dawn.

Keep reading