Bible verses for children
What does Hosanna mean?
John 12:13
they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”
John 12:13 · World English Bible Classic (WEB)
In simple words
What does this verse mean?
Hosanna is a cry connected with asking for salvation and welcoming God’s deliverance. The crowd greets Jesus as king with palm branches. Their celebration carries hopes about who he is.
Read the greeting and discuss what people might hope a good king would bring.
Talk about it
What kind of rescue or peace might people long for?
A little more to explore
Bible context & readings +
John 12:12–16 describes Jesus entering Jerusalem, with palms and a donkey. The words echo Psalm 118, while the donkey recalls Zechariah. The disciples’ understanding develops as the story continues.
Full readings at eBible.org · World English Bible Classic. Read with an adult.A simple prayer +
Jesus, help us understand the king you came to be. Amen.
A suggested prayer, written for this guide.Keep exploring
Crafts to go with this verse
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