Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King
A Christmas hymn proclaiming the full theology of the incarnation in compressed form. The three stanzas cover the angelic announcement, the theological meaning of the incarnation (veiled in flesh the Godhead see), and the soteriological purpose (born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth).
History & Background
Written by Charles Wesley in 1739 as 'Hark how all the welkin rings, glory to the King of kings.' George Whitefield altered the opening line to the familiar version in 1753. Felix Mendelssohn's tune MENDELSSOHN was adapted from his cantata Festgesang (1840) by William Cummings in 1855.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 270
- Gather 4th Edition — 475
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 60
- Lutheran Service Book — 380
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 94
Bulletin Note
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing — Charles Wesley, 1739
Preaching Connection
The incarnation as the union of divinity and humanity for our salvation.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Heavenly proclamation of Christ's birth (stanza 1) → affirmation of Christ's eternal divine nature (stanza 2) → titles of Christ's redemptive work (stanza 3) → soteriological purpose: why Christ was born (stanza 4)
Themes
Christmas Incarnation Angels Praise