Hymn Desk
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Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel

Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel

This hymn expresses the earnest Advent expectation of Christ's coming and the church's dependence upon Christ for redemption and comfort, central to Lutheran Christology. It captures the tension between Christ's first coming in humility and his promised second coming in glory, emphasizing salvation history.

History & Background

This hymn developed from medieval Latin antiphons (O Sapientia, O Adonai, etc.) used before and after the Magnificat in Advent liturgies, likely composed between the 9th and 12th centuries. John Mason Neale translated the text into English in 1851, adapting the Latin antiphonal structure into English verse.

This ancient Advent hymn may date back to a community of fifth-century Jewish Christians and perhaps was part of their Hanukkah festival. The text does include many elements of the Hanukkah celebration—remembrance of wilderness wandering, darkness and death, but also celebration of light (the use of candles) and, above all, wonderment about the hope for Christ’s return (“O”). 475 THE PSALMS, BIBLE SONGS, AND HYMNS Scripture References In the ninth century the text entered the Roman liturgy for use during Advent. In the week before Christmas the medieval st. 1 = Isa. 7:14 Matt. 1:23 church regularly sang seven “Great ‘O’ Antiphons” in conjunc­ st. 2 = Isa. 11:2 tion with the Magnificat during Vespers. Each of these an­ 1 Cor. 1:30 tiphons included an Old Testament name for the coming st. 3 - Deut. 10:17 Messiah. During the twelfth or thirteenth century these words 1 Tim. 6:15 were put in hymn form, in Latin, and the “Rejoice” refrain was Ex. 19:16-20 added. The stanzas included in the Psalter Hymnalwere st. 4-Isa. 11:1,10 historically scheduled for December 23 (st. 1, Immanuel); Rom. 15:12 Dec. 17 (st. 2, Wisdom); December 18 (st. 3, Lord of might); st. 5 - Isa. 22:22 December 19 (st. 4, Branch ofJesse); December 20 (st. 5, Rev. 3:7 Key of David); December 21 (st. 6, Bright Morning Star); st. 6 - Num. 24:17 December 22 (st. 7, Desire of Nations). Rev. 22:16 John Mason Neale translated this Latin verse st. 7 = Jer. 10:7 into English and published it in his Medieval Hymns and Rev. 15:4 Sequences (1851). In subsequent years other hymnal editors ref. - Isa. 59:20 made various changes, including changing the order of the stanzas. Neale also gave copious scriptural references for the text in his Words of the Hymnal Noted (1855). Although the Latin phrase in the refrain “nascetur pro te, Israel” has been translated “shall come to you,” it really means “shall be born to you.” Thus the original Latin hymn celebrated the first coming of the Christ. The translation, however, permits use of the hymn to celebrate both first and second comings.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Baptist Hymnal — 76
  • Chalice Hymnal — 119
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 257
  • Glory to God — 88
  • The Hymnal 1982 — 56
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 34
  • Lutheran Service Book — 357
  • Lift Up Your Hearts — 61
  • Lutheran Worship — 31
  • New Century Hymnal — 116
  • Psalter Hymnal — 328
  • Trinity Hymnal — 194
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 62
  • United Methodist Hymnal — 211
  • Voices Together — 188

Translation

John Mason Neale

Liturgical Use

During Advent, singing the hymn in full or choosing certain stanzas for different Sundays; an Advent hymn festival using various arrangements from other hymnals such as Carolsfor Choirs.

Bulletin Note

Dating to the 12th century, this hymn developed from ancient O Antiphons chanted during Advent. Its haunting melody and medieval Latin roots have sustained Christian expectation for nearly 900 years.

Preaching Connection

This hymn crystallizes the Law-Gospel tension by naming our exile and captivity before celebrating Emmanuel's ransom, making it a powerful response to proclamation of both human bondage and Christ's liberating redemption.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From Israel's captive longing through progressive divine attributes (Wisdom, Law-giver, Liberator, Light-bringer) to universal reconciliation in the King of nations

Themes

Incarnation Messianic hope Redemption Longing for Christ Second coming

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