The Holy Bible Verses

50 Bible Verses About the Mustard Seed

Explore the meaning of the mustard seed in Scripture. Discover how small faith can grow and transform lives, based on Matthew 17:20.

By The Editorial Team

Verses sourced from the World English Bible (public domain). Selection follows our editorial policy. Last reviewed 2026-04-23. See all sources.

The mustard seed in Scripture symbolizes the potential of small beginnings to yield great results. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus teaches that even a tiny amount of faith can achieve extraordinary things, illustrating how genuine belief, regardless of size, can lead to significant spiritual transformation and impact in one’s life.

“He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
— Matthew 17:20 WEB

A mustard seed may be small, but its impact is profound. Just like the earth yielding grass and herbs, as described in Genesis 1:12, a tiny seed has potential for growth. The Bible uses the mustard seed to symbolize faith. Despite its size, it can grow into a great plant, much like how faith can grow and transform lives. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus tells His disciples that if they have faith as small as a mustard seed, they can move mountains. This encourages believers to trust in the power of even the smallest faith.

Seeds play a vital role throughout scripture. Genesis 1:29 reminds us that God has given seeds for sustenance and growth. Faith, like a mustard seed, is a small beginning that holds immense potential. It speaks to the power of belief that can overcome obstacles. In the same way God promised to multiply Abraham’s offspring in Genesis 22:17, He can multiply the impact of our faith. As you reflect on these verses, consider how your faith, no matter how small, can grow into something significant.

50 verses

  1. 1

    “The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.”

  2. 2

    “God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.”

  3. 3

    “that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspringor, seed greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspringor, seed will possess the gate of his enemies.”

  4. 4

    “and you shall beat some of it very small, and put some of it before the testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be to you most holy.”

  5. 5

    “Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.”

  6. 6

    “You will carry much seed out into the field, and will gather little in; for the locust will consume it.”

  7. 7

    “You shall know also that your offspringor, seed shall be great, Your offspring as the grass of the earth.”

  8. 8

    “His offspringor, seed will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed.”

  9. 9

    ““There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:”

  10. 10

    “The words of king Lemuel; the revelation which his mother taught him.”

  11. 11

    “She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.”

  12. 12

    “Yet gleanings will be left there, like the shaking of an olive tree, two or three olives in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outermost branches of a fruitful tree,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel.”

  13. 13

    “Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance. Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing.”

  14. 14

    “Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven’t produced. From today I will bless you.’””

  15. 15

    ““For the seed of peace and the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.”

  16. 16

    “Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

  17. 17

    “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?”

  18. 18

    “He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field;”

  19. 19

    “which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.””

  20. 20

    “He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measuresliterally, three sata 3 sata is about 39 liters or a bit more than a bushel of meal, until it was all leavened.””

  21. 21

    “He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

  22. 22

    “Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done.”

  23. 23

    ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin,cumin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling caraway in flavor and appearance. It is used as a spice. and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.”

  24. 24

    “Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.””

  25. 25

    “It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,”

  26. 26

    ““Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you.literally, into your bosom. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.””

  27. 27

    “When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.””

  28. 28

    “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”

  29. 29

    “But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?”

  30. 30

    “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and put in his own garden. It grew, and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.””

  31. 31

    “He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

  32. 32

    “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.””

  33. 33

    “The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

  34. 34

    “Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!””

  35. 35

    “For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”Habakkuk 2:4”

  36. 36

    “For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring,or, seed not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”

  37. 37

    “Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspringor, seed be.”Genesis 15:5”

  38. 38

    “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart”;Deuteronomy 30:14 that is, the word of faith, which we preach:”

  39. 39

    “One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.”

  40. 40

    “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.”

  41. 42

    “But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.”Psalm 116:10 We also believe, and therefore also we speak;”

  42. 43

    “in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,”

  43. 44

    “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring.or, seed He doesn’t say, “To descendantsor, seeds”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspringor, seed”,Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7 which is Christ.”

  44. 45

    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,or, faithfulness”

  45. 46

    “saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”Genesis 22:17”

  46. 47

    “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.”

  47. 48

    “Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.”

  48. 49

    “that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—”

  49. 50

    “Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold,“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה” or “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”Isaiah 28:16”

For your week

Reflect

Consider how a mustard seed's growth mirrors your faith journey. Small beginnings can lead to significant outcomes. Faith, even if tiny, opens doors to new possibilities.

Pray

Dear God, thank You for the gift of faith. Help me to trust in Your power, even when my faith feels small. Let it grow and transform my life. Amen.

Apply

Plant a seed this week. As you care for it, reflect on your faith's growth. Let it be a reminder of the potential within you and your faith.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the mustard seed represent?

The mustard seed represents faith and potential. Though small, it grows into a large plant. Jesus uses this symbol in Matthew 17:20 to illustrate that even a little faith can achieve great things. It highlights the transformative power of belief and encourages growth from humble beginnings. The seed symbolizes the potential within each believer to rise above challenges.

What is faith like a mustard seed?

Faith like a mustard seed refers to having a small but genuine belief that can grow and achieve great outcomes. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus emphasizes that even minimal faith can move mountains. This phrase underscores that the size of faith isn't as important as its presence and sincerity. It encourages believers to nurture their faith, trusting in its capacity to develop and overcome obstacles.

What did Jesus mean?

When Jesus spoke of faith as small as a mustard seed in Matthew 17:20, He highlighted the power of authentic faith. He taught that even a little faith, if genuine, could accomplish extraordinary things, like moving mountains. His message was to trust in the strength of true faith rather than its size. This teaching encourages believers to focus on nurturing sincere faith.

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