Jesus said, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow" (Matthew 6:28); "even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Matthew 6:29). The Song of Solomon sings, "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys" (Song of Solomon 2:1). Isaiah reminds us that "the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever" (Isaiah 40:8).
Flowers in Scripture are more than decoration: they teach God's care, celebrate love's beauty, and remind us that glory fades while God's Word remains. These twelve King James passages focus on botanical imagery (lilies, roses, blossoms in the Song of Solomon and the prophets) and Jesus' call to consider the lilies. For the broader witness of creation (heavens, earth, and creatures), see bible verses about nature; for beauty in general, see beauty.
Consider the lilies
1. Matthew 6:28-30
"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"
Jesus points anxious hearts to wildflowers: they neither toil nor spin, yet God clothes them more finely than Solomon. If He dresses the lily, He will care for you.
2. Luke 12:27
"Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Luke's parallel presses the same lesson: consider how the lilies grow. Looking at flowers becomes an act of faith against worry.
3. Song of Solomon 2:1
"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys."
The beloved calls herself the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys: tender, distinctive beauty in bloom. Flower language here celebrates love's delight.
4. Song of Solomon 2:12
"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;"
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come. Spring blossoms mark joy returning after winter.
Gardens and blossoms
5. Song of Solomon 6:2
"My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies."
My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. The garden is a place of seeking and gathering beauty.
6. Song of Solomon 4:13
"Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,"
An orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard. The lover's garden overflows with fragrant plant life (Scripture's botanical poetry).
7. Hosea 14:5
"I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon."
I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily. God himself is the moisture that makes His people blossom again after wandering.
8. Isaiah 35:1
"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. God turns barren ground into flowered joy.
Beauty that fades, Word that stands
9. Isaiah 40:6-8
"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
All flesh is grass, and the flower thereof fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Flowers preach both beauty and brevity.
10. Psalms 103:15-16
"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. Wind passes over it, and it is gone. Humility grows in a flower's short season.
11. 1 Peter 1:24-25
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
Peter echoes Isaiah: the glory of man as the flower of grass falls away, but the word of the Lord endures. Gospel hope outlasts every bloom.
12. Isaiah 55:13
"Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree. God's restoring word turns sharp waste into living green.
A short prayer
Creator God, thank You for lilies and roses and every blossom that shows Your care. Quiet my worry as I consider how You clothe the flowers. Let their brief beauty remind me that Your Word stands forever, and make my life bloom with trust in You. In Jesus' name, amen.
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Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about flowers?
Jesus points to lilies as proof of the Father's care (Matthew 6:28-30). The Song of Solomon uses roses and lilies for love's beauty. Isaiah and Peter compare human glory to a fading flower, while God's Word endures (Isaiah 40:6-8; 1 Peter 1:24-25).
What does "consider the lilies" mean?
In Matthew 6 Jesus tells anxious people to look at wildflowers God clothes without their toil. If God so clothes the grass, He will much more care for you.
Is the rose of Sharon about Jesus?
Song of Solomon 2:1 is spoken in the love poem's dialogue. Christians have long read the Song as picturing Christ's love for His people, but the verse itself is botanical love poetry first.
How is this different from a nature page?
This page stays with flowers, lilies, gardens, and bloom imagery. A nature page looks more broadly at heavens, earth, and creation's witness.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about nature · Bible verses about beauty · Bible verses about anxiety · Bible verses about hope · Bible verses about light
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
