Praise God the Lord Ye Sons of Men
Praise God the Lord ye sons of men
Praise God the Lord Ye Sons of Men is a hymn text by Nicolai Decius (1541) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in elw 286, lbw 47, lsb 389, lw 44. Sung to OLD HUNDREDTH.
This hymn celebrates the Incarnation as God's supreme act of mercy, bringing divine grace directly into human experience through Christ's birth. It reflects Lutheran emphasis on God's freely given mercy as the foundation of salvation, accessible to all people through faith in Christ.
History & Background
Nicolai Decius composed this hymn in German as 'Lobe Gott den Herrn' in 1541 during the Reformation period. Catherine Winkworth provided this English translation in 1863, making it accessible to English-speaking Lutheran congregations.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 286
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 47
- Lutheran Service Book — 389
- Lutheran Worship — 44
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 105
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed by Nicolai Decius in 1541, this German Reformation hymn anchors Christmas faith in the doctrine of sola gratia—God's mercy alone—making the Incarnation accessible to every believing Christian.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran proclamation of freely given grace: God's supreme mercy breaks into human history through Christ's birth, offering comfort to all who receive it by faith rather than works.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Universal call to worship → Recognition of God's sovereignty and care → Liturgical entry into God's presence → Affirmation of God's eternal goodness and faithfulness
Overview
Nikolaus Herman, cantor in Joachimsthal, wrote hymns for children and schools. This Christmas hymn tells the story of the incarnation in simple language with deep theology: God gives his Son (st. 1), who leaves his throne for a manger (st. 2), veils his divinity in a servant's form (st. 3), is cared for by his mother (st. 4), fulfills the promise to Judah (st. 5), makes a 'wondrous exchange' (st. 6-7), and reopens paradise (st. 8). The 'great exchange' (fröhlicher Wechsel) of st. 7 is a signature Lutheran theme.
Central theme: The incarnation as the great exchange: Christ becomes a servant so that we become lords, and paradise is reopened
Structure
Gift (1); humiliation (2-4); fulfillment (5); exchange (6-7); paradise reopened (8).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout; 'sinners' and the guarded gate imply the fall that Christ reverses.
Confessional Connections
Luther's 'joyous exchange' (Freedom of a Christian); FC VIII (state of humiliation: Christ conceals the use of his divine majesty).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Christmas Day and season; Sunday after Christmas.
Historical Notes
Herman (c. 1480-1561) worked alongside pastor Johann Mathesius, Luther's biographer. His tune and text appeared in 1554/1560.
About the Tune
LOBT GOTT, IHR CHRISTEN — Herman's own sprightly tune; used by Bach in several works.
Scripture References
Luke 2:1-14 John 3:16 Phil 2:6-8 Gen 49:10 2 Cor 8:9 2 Cor 5:21 Gen 3:24 Luke 23:43
Stanza by Stanza
Humanity is called to praise God before his throne, for today he opens heaven again and gives his own Son.
The call to praise is grounded in two gifts: heaven opened and the Son given (John 3:16; Isa 9:6). 'Opens heaven again' implies it had been closed by sin (Gen 3:24) — a theme completed in st. 8. 'Today' (Luke 2:11) — the liturgical 'today' makes the event present to the worshiper.
- Scripture
- Isa 9:6, John 3:16, Luke 2:11, Gen 3:24
- Imagery & language
- Throne; heaven opened.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the gift of the Son.
- Connection to previous
- Opening call and thesis.
Christ leaves his Father's throne, is born a small infant, and lies poor and alone in a manger in a humble stall.
A narrative of descent: throne to manger (Phil 2:6-7; John 6:38). 'Poor and lone' — the poverty and obscurity of the birth (Luke 2:7). The contrast is the point: the highest place exchanged for the lowest.
- Scripture
- Phil 2:6-7, John 6:38, Luke 2:7, 2 Cor 8:9
- Imagery & language
- Throne and stall.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — humiliation.
- Connection to previous
- From the gift to its manner.
He hides his divine power in flesh to take a servant's form; the Maker of heaven and earth suffers want and lowliness.
Phil 2:7 ('taking the form of a servant'). 'Veils… His power divine' expresses the Lutheran teaching on the state of humiliation: Christ did not lose his divine attributes but did not always use them fully (FC VIII). 'Who heaven and earth did make' — the Creator in want (John 1:3, 10). The paradox is the Gospel.
- Scripture
- Phil 2:7, John 1:3, 10, Heb 1:2-3, Col 1:16
- Imagery & language
- Veil; servant's form.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — humiliation.
- Connection to previous
- Deepens the humiliation of st. 2.
He nurses at his mother's breast and receives her care — the one whom angels greet with joy as King David's royal heir.
The tenderest image: God nursing (Luke 11:27). It insists on a true human nature with real needs. Yet the infant is 'King David's royal heir' (Luke 1:32) whom angels hail (Luke 2:13). The combination of dependence and majesty is the mystery of the two natures.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:7, Luke 11:27, Luke 1:32-33, Luke 2:13
- Imagery & language
- Mother and infant; angels and king.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — true humanity.
- Connection to previous
- Human intimacy alongside royal dignity.
He is the one promised to come from Judah in the last days, through whom the Father would raise up his church, Christendom.
Fulfillment of prophecy: from Judah (Gen 49:10; Mic 5:2; Heb 7:14). 'These latter days' — Heb 1:1-2. The goal of the incarnation includes the church: through Christ the Father 'upraises' his Christendom (Matt 16:18; Eph 2:19-22). Christmas is ecclesial: Christ's body, the church, is born from his coming.
- Scripture
- Gen 49:10, Mic 5:2, Heb 1:1-2, Heb 7:14, Matt 16:18, Eph 2:19-22
- Imagery & language
- Tribe of Judah; building the church.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — promise fulfilled.
- Connection to previous
- Places the birth in salvation history.
Christ makes a wonderful exchange: he takes our flesh and blood and hides his divine majesty for the sake of sinners.
The 'wondrous change' (wunderlicher Wechsel) is the heart of the hymn. Christ assumes our nature (Heb 2:14) and conceals his majesty 'for sinners' sake.' The incarnation is already the beginning of the exchange that culminates at the cross (2 Cor 5:21).
- Scripture
- Heb 2:14, Phil 2:7, 2 Cor 5:21, John 1:14
- Imagery & language
- Exchange; concealed majesty.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the great exchange.
- Connection to previous
- Names the theme of the hymn.
He becomes a servant so that I may become a lord — a great exchange! Could Jesus' love do more to help me in my need?
The 'joyous exchange' stated in personal terms: 'He serves that I a lord may be.' Compare 2 Cor 8:9 ('though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich') and Luther's Freedom of a Christian: the Christian is a perfectly free lord of all. The rhetorical question invites wonder: no greater love is possible (John 15:13; Rom 8:32).
- Scripture
- 2 Cor 8:9, Mark 10:45, Rom 8:17, 32, Rev 1:6, John 15:13
- Imagery & language
- Servant and lord; exchange.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — exchange applied to me.
- Connection to previous
- Personalizes the exchange of st. 6.
Today he reopens the door of paradise; the angel no longer guards the gate, and we give thanks to God.
Gen 3:24: after the fall God placed cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life. Christ reopens paradise (Luke 23:43; Rev 2:7; 22:14). The angels who once barred the way now sing at Bethlehem. The final line is thanksgiving — the proper response to the exchange. The hymn's opening 'opens heaven again' (st. 1) is fulfilled.
- Scripture
- Gen 3:24, Luke 23:43, Rev 2:7, Rev 22:14, John 10:9
- Imagery & language
- Door of paradise; guarding angel.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — paradise restored.
- Connection to previous
- Completes the thought of st. 1.
Themes
Incarnation Divine mercy and grace Praise and adoration Nativity of Christ