Come, Thou Bright and Morning Star

Come, Thou Bright and Morning Star is a hymn text by Philipp Nicolai (1599) in 8.7.8.7.8.8.7 meter. Translated by composite English translation. Found in ELH 75, lsb 872, lw 28, tlh 539.

This hymn exemplifies Lutheran Christology by presenting Christ as the fulfillment of Old Testament messianic hope and the source of salvation and comfort for believers. The text reflects the Lutheran emphasis on Christ-centered devotion and the assurance of God's gracious presence through the incarnate Word.

History & Background

Philipp Nicolai composed this hymn in 1599 as part of his meditations on the Christian life, originally in German as 'Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern.' The English text is a composite translation that appeared in various Lutheran hymnals throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Hymnal Appearances

• Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 75
• Lutheran Service Book — 872
• Lutheran Worship — 28
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 539

Translation

composite English translation

Bulletin Note

Composed by Philipp Nicolai in 1599, this hymn anchors Lutheran devotion in Christ as the fulfillment of Old Testament messianic hope—the Morning Star whose radiance pierces our darkness with the comfort of God's gracious presence.

Preaching Connection

This hymn moves from the Law's exposure of human darkness and longing to the Gospel's proclamation that Christ himself is the radiant answer—making it a powerful companion to any sermon on messianic fulfillment or the incarnation as God's gracious light.

Background Research

Christian Knorr von Rosenroth (1636–1689), Silesian-born polymath and Lutheran theologian, chancellor to the Count Palatine at Sulzbach. He was a major Christian Kabbalist: from memory, he edited the Kabbala Denudata (1677–84), Latin translations of Zohar texts, which made Jewish mysticism known to Christian Europe. 'Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit' (1684, per Wikipedia and index; Wikipedia also gives 1690), written for private devotion, became a beloved Protestant morning hymn and from the 1930s entered Catholic books (Gotteslob 84, with three stanzas by Maria Luise Thurmair). Theme: Christ the 'morning brightness of eternity', the dayspring (Luke 1:78) and morning star (Rev 22:16), asked to dispel the night of sin, to give dew of grace, to rise in us like the sun. Knorr first printed it with his own melody; the Halle hymnal of 1704 set it to J. R. Ahle's 1662 tune MORGENGLANZ DER EWIGKEIT (TLH). Reger's chorale prelude (1901). Massie's English 1857.

Sources: Wikipedia 'Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit'.

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

• Epiphany 2 (1×)
• Last Sunday of the Church Year (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

• Epiphany 6 (1×)
• Proper 17 (1×)

From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.

Overview

A morning hymn by Christian Knorr von Rosenroth, a Lutheran scholar and statesman in Sulzbach, translated by Richard Massie. It calls on Christ, the Bright and Morning Star and Light of Light, to shine on us and keep us from sin (st. 1); asks his grace to fall like morning dew on dry souls (st. 2) and his fervent love to burn away our cold works and wake zeal (st. 3); prays that at his next appearing we may rise from our graves (st. 4); and asks to be led through this vale of tears to unclouded days (st. 5). Each morning becomes a small rehearsal of resurrection.

Central theme: Christ the Morning Star, whose light, dew and love renew us daily and will raise us on the Last Day

Structure

Five six-line stanzas (7.8.7.8.7.3, short final line). Light (1) — dew (2) — love's fire (3) — resurrection (4) — heaven (5).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law: 'our dark night,' 'dry souls and dying graces,' 'our cold works' (1-3). Gospel: Christ's light, grace, love; resurrection (1-4).

Confessional Connections

'Light of Light' (Nicene Creed). Christ's grace renews daily — the daily return to Baptism (SC IV). 'Cold works' destroyed by his love — good works flow from faith and love worked by the Spirit, not from duty alone (AC XX; FC IV). Bodily resurrection at Christ's appearing (AC XVII). Morning prayer to be 'kept from sinning' echoes Luther's Morning Prayer.

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Morning; Matins; Advent; Epiphany.

Historical Notes

Knorr von Rosenroth (1636-1689) was a noted scholar of Hebrew and Jewish mysticism and a counselor at the Sulzbach court; he published his hymns in 1684. The tune comes from Freylinghausen's Geistreiches Gesangbuch (Halle, 1704).

About the Tune

MORGENGLANZ DER EWIGKEIT (Geistreiches Gesangbuch, Halle, 1704).

Scripture References

Ps 88:13 Rev 22:16 2 Pet 1:19 John 1:4-5, 9 1 John 1:5-7 Hos 14:5 Isa 44:3 Ps 133:3 Heb 9:14 Rom 12:11 Rev 2:4-5 Luke 1:78-79 John 5:28-29 1 Thess 4:16 Mal 4:2 Ps 84:6 Rev 21:23-25

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Christ as Morning Star Longing for Christ's return Comfort and hope Messianic expectation Divine radiance

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "Come, Thou Bright and Morning Star" ↗