Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray

Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1610) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by F. Samuel Janzow. Found in ELH 311, elw 241, lbw 225, lsb 623.

This hymn articulates Lutheran orthodox sacramental theology, particularly the mysterious union of Christ's body and blood with the bread and wine in Holy Communion. It emphasizes both the objective reality of Christ's presence and the believer's faith-response in receiving the sacrament worthily.

History & Background

Originally written in German as 'Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend' by Martin Behm in the early 17th century. The English translation by F. Samuel Janzow appeared in the 1960s and became standard in Lutheran hymnals.

Hymnal Appearances

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 311
Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 241
Lutheran Book of Worship — 225
Lutheran Service Book — 623
Lutheran Worship — 250
The Lutheran Hymnal — 314

Translation

F. Samuel Janzow

Bulletin Note

Martin Behm's 1610 hymn grounds Lutheran orthodoxy in prayer and wonder. It teaches that Christ's body and blood are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine—not merely symbolized, but mysteriously given for our salvation.

Preaching Connection

This hymn crystallizes Lutheran sacramental theology by yoking human guilt (Law) to Christ's gracious self-gift at the Table (Gospel), making it an ideal sung response to preaching on the Real Presence or worthy reception.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

The Definition & Command of Communion Small Catechism — Holy Communion
Of Lord’s Supper Augsburg Confession

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

Trinity 17 (3×)
Advent 4 (2×)
Trinity 10 (2×)
Trinity 2 (2×)
Trinity 3 (2×)
Easter 2 (1×)
Easter 6 (1×)
Epiphany 2 (1×)
Maundy Thursday (1×)
Nativity of St. John the Baptist (1×)
St. James The Elder (1×)
Trinity 13 (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

Easter 7 (4×)
Proper 12 (2×)
Proper 7 (2×)
Proper 8 (2×)
Proper 26 (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.

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

A Communion hymn by Henry Eyster Jacobs, the leading theologian of the General Council and translator of the Book of Concord into English. It prays to feed on Christ 'beneath these forms of bread and wine' (st. 1); asks for the peace of forgiveness and the joy of heirs (st. 2); confesses that hearts cling to the Word, receiving all Christ is and giving all we are (st. 3); celebrates the unity of the one bread and proclaims his death until he comes (st. 4); and prays for steadfastness until the heavenly feast (st. 5). It is a precise, confessional and warm Eucharistic text.

Central theme: Feeding on Christ's body and blood beneath bread and wine, uniting his people until the heavenly feast

Structure

Five long-meter quatrains. Prayer (1) — gifts (2) — faith in the Word (3) — unity (4) — the heavenly feast (5).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel throughout; 'trembling hearts' and 'sin forgiven' acknowledge our need.

Confessional Connections

'Beneath these forms of bread and wine' — the sacramental union ('in, with, and under,' FC VII.35). The true body broken and blood (st. 2). Faith clings to Christ's Word (FC VII.42-45). Unity of the communicants as one body (1 Cor 10:17) — the basis of Lutheran close communion. The Supper as foretaste of the feast to come.

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Holy Communion; Maundy Thursday; Eucharistic instruction.

Historical Notes

Jacobs (1844-1932), Philadelphia Seminary; editor of the English Book of Concord (1882). Written 1910.

About the Tune

HERR JESU CHRIST, DICH ZU UNS WEND (Dresden, 1628).

Scripture References

John 6:51-56 Matt 26:26-28 1 Cor 10:16-17 Rom 8:15-17 1 Cor 11:24-26 John 6:68 Rom 12:1 Eph 4:4-6 John 11:52 Rev 19:9 Luke 22:16, 18 1 Cor 1:8

Stanza by Stanza

1 Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray…

Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray that we may feed on you today; enrich us with your divine grace under these forms of bread and wine.

'Feed on Thee' — John 6:56-57. 'Beneath these forms of bread and wine' — careful confessional language: the bread and wine remain, and beneath/with them Christ's body and blood are given (FC VII.35). Jacobs, who translated the Book of Concord, chose his words precisely.

Scripture: John 6:56-57, Matt 26:26-28, 1 Cor 10:16
Imagery & language: Feeding; forms of bread and wine.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Christ given under bread and wine.
Connection to previous: Opening.

sacramental union Real Presence grace

2 The chastened peace of sin forgiven,…

As we share this wonderful food, your body broken and your blood, grant the chastened peace of forgiven sin and the filial joy of heaven's heirs.

'Chastened peace' — the peace of one humbled by repentance and then forgiven. 'Filial joy of heirs' — adoption (Rom 8:15-17). These are the Supper's gifts: forgiveness and the assurance of sonship. 'Thy body broken and Thy blood' — the content.

Scripture: Rom 5:1, Rom 8:15-17, Gal 4:6-7, 1 Cor 11:24
Imagery & language: Chastened peace; filial joy.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — forgiveness and adoption.
Connection to previous: Gifts.

forgiveness adoption peace

3 Our trembling hearts cleave to Thy Word;…

Our trembling hearts cling to your Word; you give everything you have said; all that you are we receive here, and all that we are we give to you.

Faith rests on the Word (John 6:68). 'All Thou hast said Thou dost afford' — Christ's promise is fulfilled in the giving. 'All that Thou art we here receive' — the whole Christ, God and man, is present. 'All we are to Thee we give' — the response of self-offering (Rom 12:1), not a sacrifice for sin.

Scripture: John 6:68, Matt 24:35, Col 2:9-10, Rom 12:1
Imagery & language: Trembling and cleaving; receiving and giving.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — whole Christ received; response.
Connection to previous: Faith and response.

faith in the Word whole Christ self-offering

4 One bread, one cup, one body, we,…

One bread, one cup, one body are we, united by our life in you; we proclaim your love until you come to bring your scattered loved ones home.

1 Cor 10:17: 'Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body.' Communion unites communicants with Christ and with each other — the theological basis for confessional unity at the altar. 'Proclaim… till Thou shalt come' (1 Cor 11:26). 'Scattered loved ones' — John 11:52.

Scripture: 1 Cor 10:16-17, 1 Cor 11:26, Eph 4:4-6, John 11:52
Imagery & language: One bread, one body.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — unity in Christ.
Connection to previous: Unity.

communion of saints unity close communion eschatology

5 Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray…

Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray that you keep us steadfast until that day, so that each of us may be your welcome guest when you spread your heavenly feast.

The Supper anticipates 'the marriage supper of the Lamb' (Rev 19:9; Luke 22:16, 18). Steadfastness 'to that day' (1 Cor 1:8). Each communion is a foretaste of the eternal feast.

Scripture: Rev 19:9, Luke 22:16, 18, 1 Cor 1:8, Isa 25:6-8
Imagery & language: Heavenly feast.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — perseverance to the marriage feast.
Connection to previous: Concludes.

eschatology perseverance foretaste

Themes

The Real Presence Holy Communion Christological mystery Sacramental grace Penitence

Look Further

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