Jesse Tree /

Advent Scriptures and

Symbols 

December 1 - Symbol: Dove

symbolizing God’s Spirit moving over the waters

at the beginning

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:3 - Creation

December 2

Symbol: Fruit and Serpent

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-3:13 -

Fall of Adam and Eve  

December 3

Symbol: Rainbow - God’s Promise to keep the

waters under control

Scripture: Genesis 6:11-22; 7:17-8:3; 9:8-17 -

The Flood   

December 4

Symbol: Sky with Stars - Abram will be the

ancestor to as many people as stars in the

sky

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-7; 15:1-6 - The Call and

Promise to Abram  

December 5

Symbol: The ram - God provided to Abraham to

sacrifice instead of his son

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19 - Abraham and Isaac

and the Sacrifice  

December 6

Symbol:  A ladder, like the one Jacob saw in his

dream

Scripture: Genesis 28:1-17- Jacob

December 7

Symbol: A grain sack, like the one Joseph filled for his brothers

Scripture: Genesis 42:1-45:15 - Joseph and his Brothers

December 8

Symbol: The Burning Bush

Scripture: Exodus 1:1-14; 3:1-12 - Moses and the Burning Bush  

December 9

Symbol: A Kneading Bowl, the Israelites did not

have time to bake their bread, but took it in the

bowl

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-39 The Passover and

Escape from Egypt

December 10

Symbol: Stone Tablets, associated with

the 10 commandments

Scripture: Exodus 19:16-20:20 - The Giving of the

Law

December 11

Symbol: Ram’s Horn Trumpet, which helped bring

down the walls of Jericho

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9, 5:13-6:20 - The

Conquest of Jericho

December 12

Symbol: A water jug, like those that hid the

torches

Scripture: Judges 2:6-16, 6:1-16, 7:1-23 -

Gideon

December 13

Symbol: A lyre, to represent the musician

king

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-23. 2 Samuel 5:1-5,7:1-

17 - David

December 14

Symbol: Symbol: Stone altar

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:17-39 - Elijah and the

Prophets of Baal

December 15

Symbol: The tongs and burning coal by which

Isaiah’s mouth was cleansed in his

vision

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13 - Isaiah in the Temple

December 16

Symbol: A crown for a king of justice and peace

Scripture: Isaiah 8:11-9:7 - A Wise and Just King

December 17

Symbol: Stalks of Grain representing the promised

abundance

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 and 

Jeremiah 30:23-31:14 - The Babylonian Exile

December 18

Symbol: A great fish, even if it isn’t the main point

of the story 

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-4:11 - The Story of Jonah

December 19

Symbol: A watchtower

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 -

Waiting on the Lord

December 20

Symbol: The sun of righteousness that will “rise

with healing in its wings”

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-5, 4:1-6 - 

The Sun of Righteousness

December 21

Symbol:  A scallop shell - traditional sign of

baptism

Scripture: Luke 1:5-17, Matthew 3:1-6 - 

John the Baptizer

December 22

Symbol:  A lily, representing purity, traditional for

Mary 

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 - Mary and the Angel

December 23

Symbol:   A carpenter’s square, representing both

Joseph’s trade and his uprightness of his

life

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 - The Annunciation to Joseph

December 24

Symbol:  A scroll, representing Caesar’s

proclamation 

Scripture: Luke 2:1-5 - The Journey to Bethlehem

December 25

Symbol: The manger and the star, of course!

 Scripture: Luke 2:6-21 - The Birth of Jesus