What are the Bible verses for Holy Week?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, Holy Pascha is almost entirely composed of Bible verses, structured through the Old Testament Prophecies, the Psalms, and the Four Gospels.

1. The Theme of the Week: The Paschal Praise (Revelation and Psalms)

The most frequently repeated Bible verse during Holy Week is the "Hymn of the Pascha", which is based on Revelation 7:12 and Psalm 118:14:

"Amen: Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen." (Rev 7:12)

"The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." (Psalm 118:14)

2. Palm Sunday: The Royal Entrance (Matthew 21:1-11)

The focus is on the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9:

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."

3. Holy Monday: The Barren Fig Tree and Authority (Matthew 21:12–22)

The Church focuses on Christ’s authority over creation and the requirement of spiritual fruitfulness.

• Psalm Verse: "The zeal of Your house has eaten me up." (Psalm 69:9)

4. Holy Tuesday: The End of Days and Wisdom (Matthew 24 & 25)

This day is dedicated to the parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents.

• Key Verse: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." (Matthew 25:13)

5. Holy Wednesday: The Anointing and the Betrayal (Matthew 26:6-16)

The focus shifts to the woman who anointed Christ with costly oil and the contrast of Judas’s betrayal.

• Psalm Verse: "His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords." (Psalm 55:21)

6. Covenant Thursday: The Last Supper and Foot Washing (John 13)

The focus is on the institution of the Eucharist and the commandment of humility.

• Key Verse: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet." (John 13:14)
• The Institution: "Take, eat; this is My body... Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant." (Matthew 26:26-28)

7. Great Friday: The Crucifixion and Burial

This day follows the Lord from Gethsemane to Golgotha.

• The Prophetic Psalm (6th Hour): "They pierced My hands and My feet... They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." (Psalm 22:16-18)
• The Royal Proclamation (12th Hour): "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom." (Psalm 45:6)
• The Seven Last Words: These include "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34) and "It is finished!" (John 19:30).

8. Bright Saturday (Apocalypse Night)

The Church reads the entire Book of Revelation, focusing on the victory of the Lamb.

• Key Verse: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End... I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore." (Revelation 1:8, 18)

During the Pascha hours, the Church also reads extensively from the Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Amos, etc.) to show that every detail of Christ's suffering was foretold in the Scriptures.