O Blessed Day When First was Poured

O Blessed Day When First was Poured is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1602) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in ELH 157, lw 287, tlh 115. Sung to GOTT SEI DANK.

The hymn celebrates God's gracious incarnation and Christ's baptism as fulfillment of Old Testament promise and foundation for Christian baptismal grace. It exemplifies Lutheran sacramental theology by connecting Christ's baptism to the believer's baptismal covenant and assurance of forgiveness.

History & Background

Written by Martin Behm in 1602 as a German hymn commemorating the baptism and incarnation of Christ. Translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in 1869 and included in The Chorale Book for England.

Hymnal Appearances

• Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 157
• Lutheran Worship — 287
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 115

Translation

Catherine Winkworth

Bulletin Note

Composed by Martin Behm in 1602, this hymn masterfully links Christ's baptism to our own, making sacramental theology singable. It exemplifies Lutheran confidence in God's covenant grace sealed in water and Word.

Preaching Connection

This hymn crystallizes the Gospel movement of incarnate mercy: Christ's self-emptying descent into baptismal waters becomes the mercy-flood that drowns our sin and raises us to new life in God.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

• The Definition & Command of Baptism Small Catechism — Holy Baptism

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

• Circumcision and Name of Jesus (4×)

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 second hymn by Sébastien Besnault for the Circumcision of Christ (January 1; compare TLH 117), translated by John Chandler. Blessed is the day when Christ's blood was first shed and his saving work began (st. 1); the nursing infant already wills to shed his blood (st. 2), obeying the Father's will, a victim before the day of sacrifice (st. 3). The great Lawgiver is made obedient to the Law for our sake, sinless yet making atonement (st. 4). The singer asks Christ to circumcise the heart and write his name and Law within (st. 5), and closes with a doxology (st. 6).

Central theme: The circumcision of Jesus as the first shedding of his blood and the beginning of his obedience under the Law for us

Structure

Six long-meter quatrains. First blood (1) — foretaste of death (2) — prompt obedience (3) — the Lawgiver under the Law (4) — circumcised hearts (5) — doxology (6).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel: 'His saving work for sinful man'; 'Sinless, for sin atonement makes' (1, 4). Prayer for new hearts (5).

Confessional Connections

Gal 4:4-5 (TLH's text): 'born under the law, to redeem those under the law.' St. 4: 'The great Lawgiver… Obedient to the Law is made' — Christ's active obedience, fulfilling the Law in our place, is part of the righteousness imputed to us (FC III.15, 58). 'Sinless, for sin atonement makes' (2 Cor 5:21; AC III). St. 5: the circumcision of the heart (Deut 30:6) fulfilled in Baptism — 'a circumcision made without hands… having been buried with him in baptism' (Col 2:11-12).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Circumcision and Name of Jesus (January 1).

Historical Notes

Besnault (d. 1724) wrote it for a French breviary; Chandler (1806-1876) translated it in his Hymns of the Primitive Church (1837).

About the Tune

ANGELUS (Heilige Seelenlust, Breslau, 1657, adapted).

Scripture References

Gal 4:4-5 Luke 2:21 Heb 9:22 Heb 10:5-10 John 4:34 Phil 2:8 2 Cor 5:21 Matt 5:17 Deut 30:6 Rom 2:28-29 Col 2:11-12 Jer 31:33 Rev 3:12

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Incarnation Baptism of Christ Divine mercy Covenant grace Christian initiation

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "O Blessed Day When First was Poured" ↗
• Search IMSLP for public-domain scores of "GOTT SEI DANK" ↗