O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Words: Latin origin from the 12th century;
first translated into English by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Music: Anonymous--13th century

The roots of this carol can be found in the medieval Roman Church of the 12th century and possibly even earlier. Each of the carol's stanzas begins with a short statement called an "antiphon." Antiphons were used at the beginning of Vespers 30 during the Advent season,31 and were greetings sung to the Savior--each antiphon using one of the many titles given to Jesus in the Scriptures.

This carol's modal 32 melody is an example of the earliest form of singing in the Church. During the 19th century there were a number of ministers and scholars, such as John M. Neale (born in London), who developed an interest in rediscovering and translating into English many of the ancient Greek, Latin and German hymns. Neale himself wrote more than sixty original hymns.

Although the original carol contained many more antiphons, most hymn books that have been printed contain only five of the original antiphons, which are as follows. In verse 1: "Emmanuel." ("Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel."--Isaiah 7:14.)

In verse 2: "Rod of Jesse." ("And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."--Isaiah 11:1.)

In verse 3: "Dayspring"--meaning "sunrising." ("Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on High hath visited us."--Luke 1:78.)

In verse 4: "Key of David." ("And the key of the house of David will I lay upon His shoulder."--Isaiah 22:22a.)

And in verse 5: "Lord of Might"--which addresses God Who revealed Himself on Mount Sinai in the awesome accompaniment of lightning and thunder. ("There were thick clouds upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud."--Exodus 19:16.)


O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

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 thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call. Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain