Hymn Information
O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel
Translator: J. M. Neale (1851)
Tune: VENI EMMANUEL (Chant)
O Come, O Come Emmanuel Lyrics
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
3 O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
4 O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
5 O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
7 O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Chronological History of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
| Date | Historical development | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Eighth century | The Great O Antiphons develop within Western Christian Advent liturgy. | Provides the theological and literary foundation of the hymn. |
| Ninth century | The O Antiphons become established in the medieval Roman liturgical tradition. | Develops the seven Advent invocations addressed to Christ. |
| Twelfth century | The Latin text Veni, Veni Emmanuel emerges in medieval hymn tradition. | Establishes the hymn's familiar Latin form. |
| Fifteenth century | A melody associated with the hymn appears in a French Franciscan processional manuscript. | Provides the historical source of the familiar tune. |
| 1851 | John Mason Neale publishes an English translation of the hymn. | Introduces the hymn to English-speaking congregations. |
| 1854 | The hymn appears in The Hymnal Noted, Part II, edited by John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore. | Helps establish its English-language liturgical circulation. |
| Nineteenth century | The hymn becomes increasingly popular in Anglican and other Protestant worship. | Establishes it as a major Advent hymn. |
| Twentieth century | The hymn enters numerous international hymnals and recordings. | Expands its popularity beyond Anglican worship. |
| Twenty-first century | It remains a widely sung Advent hymn. | Continues its place in Christmas and Advent services. |
Musical and literary characteristics:
| Feature | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Tune name | VENI EMMANUEL | Identifies the traditional melody. |
| Composer | Thomas Helmore (musical adaptation and publication attribution) | Helped introduce the melody into English hymnody. |
| Lyricist | John Mason Neale (English translation) | Made the medieval Latin hymn accessible to English congregations. |
| Original text | Medieval Latin | Based on the Advent O Antiphons. |
| Meter | 8.8.8.8 (LM) | Long Meter structure. |
| Musical character | Solemn, modal and processional | Reflects the penitential and expectant character of Advent. |
| Hymnbook source | The Hymnal Noted, Part II (1854) | Important nineteenth-century publication. |
| Melody source | Fifteenth-century French Franciscan processional manuscript | Historical source associated with the familiar tune. |
Comparing Two Popular Hymns:
| Feature | O Come, O Come, Emmanuel | The First Noel |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Medieval Western Christian liturgy | English folk-carol tradition |
| Country of origin | Medieval Western Europe; later English adaptation | England, traditionally associated with Cornwall |
| Original language | Latin | English |
| Original composition | Medieval Latin text based on the O Antiphons | Traditional, anonymous composition |
| Approximate origins | O Antiphons date from at least the early medieval period; familiar hymn text developed later | Exact date unknown; traditionally associated with the 16th–17th centuries |
| Lyricist | Anonymous medieval authors; English translation by John Mason Neale | Anonymous traditional authors |
| Composer | Traditional medieval melody; adapted and published by Thomas Helmore | Traditional English melody |
| Tune name | VENI EMMANUEL | THE FIRST NOEL |
| Meter | 8.8.8.8 (LM) | 8.6.8.6.8.6. with refrain (irregular) |
| Important publication | The Hymnal Noted, Part II (1854) | Davies Gilbert's Some Ancient Christmas Carols (1823) |
| Later publication | Nineteenth-century Anglican hymnals | William Sandys's Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern (1833) |
| Liturgical association | Advent | Christmas |
| Biblical emphasis | Prophecies concerning the coming Messiah | The Nativity and announcement of Christ's birth |
| Musical character | Solemn, contemplative and processional | Joyful, narrative and celebratory |
| Central theme | Longing for the coming Redeemer | Proclamation of the birth of Jesus Christ |
