The Bible says God made the seasons: "thou hast made summer and winter" (Psalm 74:17), and while the earth remains, "summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22). Jesus used the season as a sign, "ye know that summer is nigh" (Matthew 24:32), and God is "a shadow from the heat" (Isaiah 25:4).
Summer means long days, vacations, camps, Vacation Bible School, weddings, reunions and time outdoors. People search for summer Bible verses for church signs, camp themes, captions and bulletin boards, and for encouragement in the heat of a busy season. The KJV mentions summer about two dozen times, usually alongside harvest, heat and God's faithfulness. These twelve King James verses celebrate the God who made summer, point to the shade and living water He provides, and draw a few summer lessons from Scripture. For the other seasons, see spring and fall.
Summer is nigh: the season God made
1. Matthew 24:32
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:"
Jesus pointed to tender fig branches and new leaves as a sign that summer is near, and taught His followers to watch for the signs of His return the same way (Matthew 24:33). A green tree in early summer can remind us that God's promises are on schedule.
2. Zechariah 14:8
"And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be."
In Zechariah's vision, living waters flow out from Jerusalem in summer and in winter, never drying up in the heat as many streams in Israel did. God's grace has no dry season. See water.
3. Proverbs 30:25
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;"
Ants are small and not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer. Summer can be a season to prepare, not only to relax: to build habits, read, learn and save for leaner times. Proverbs 6:6-8 makes the same point; see laziness.
4. Proverbs 10:5
"He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame."
He that gathereth in summer is a wise son. In Israel the summer harvest needed everyone's work. The principle is to use opportunities while they last, whether that is a summer job, a service project or time with family before school starts again.
Shade and water in the heat
5. Isaiah 25:4
"For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."
God is a strength to the poor and needy, a refuge from the storm and a shadow from the heat. In a hot land, shade could save a life. Whatever heat you face, physical or emotional, God offers shelter.
6. Isaiah 4:6
"And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain."
God promised a tabernacle (shelter) for shade in the daytime from the heat and a covert from storm and rain, like the cloud that covered Israel in the wilderness (Isaiah 4:5). Summer heat and summer storms are both covered.
7. Psalms 121:5-6
"The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night."
The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand: the sun shall not smite thee by day. Pilgrims sang this psalm on the road to Jerusalem, and it is still a favorite for summer travel and outdoor work. See safe travel.
8. Isaiah 49:10
"They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them."
God's people will not hunger or thirst, and neither heat nor sun will strike them, because He leads them by the springs of water. Revelation 7:16-17 uses the same promise to describe heaven.
Summer lessons for the soul
9. Jeremiah 8:20
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved is a lament for a missed opportunity. Summer does not last forever, and neither does the chance to respond to God. It is a gentle nudge not to put off what matters most. See salvation.
10. Psalms 32:4
"For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah."
Before he confessed his sin, David felt his strength drying up like the drought of summer. After confession came forgiveness and joy (Psalm 32:5, 32:11). Hidden guilt drains us; honesty with God refreshes. See forgiveness.
11. Proverbs 25:25
"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Anyone who has had a cold drink on a hot day knows the feeling. A letter, a call or the good news of the gospel refreshes in the same way.
12. Ecclesiastes 11:7
"Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:"
Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing to see the sun. The Preacher encourages us to enjoy the days God gives while remembering Him (Ecclesiastes 11:8-9). Enjoy summer as a gift. See sweet Bible verses.
A short prayer
Lord, You made summer and winter, and every sunny day is Your gift. Thank You for long days, rest and time with people I love. Be my shade in the heat and my living water when I feel dry. Help me use this season well, to rest, to grow and to share good news, and to remember You in all of it. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Start a reading habit this season with the free One-Year Bible Reading Plan · Memorize one verse a week all summer with the Scripture Memory Cards · Download our free SOAP study page
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Bible verse for summer?
Short, cheerful choices include "thou hast made summer and winter" (Psalm 74:17), "Truly the light is sweet" (Ecclesiastes 11:7) and "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). For a camp or Vacation Bible School theme, God as "a shadow from the heat" (Isaiah 25:4) works well.
Does the Bible mention summer?
Yes, about two dozen times in the KJV, usually together with winter or harvest: God's promise after the flood (Genesis 8:22), the ant's preparation (Proverbs 6:8), the fig tree (Matthew 24:32) and Amos's basket of summer fruit (Amos 8:1). In Israel summer was the dry season of fruit harvests, so summer verses often speak of work, heat and fruit.
What is a good summer Bible verse for kids?
Kids enjoy the ant verse: "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer" (Proverbs 30:25). For sunny days outdoors, try "the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand" (Psalm 121:5). Memorize one verse a week through the summer break. See Bible verses for kids.
How can I grow spiritually during the summer?
Summer schedules loosen, which can help or hurt your time with God. Pick one simple rhythm: a short reading plan, a verse to memorize each week, a family devotion after dinner or a service project. Rest is biblical too; Jesus told His tired disciples to come apart and rest a while (Mark 6:31). See rest.
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 spring · Bible verses about fall · Bible verses about water · Bible verses about nature · Bible verses about rest · Bible verses for safe travel · Bible verses about creation · Sweet Bible verses
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
