The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us
The Bridegroom soon will call us
The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us is a hymn text by Philipp Nicolai (1599) in 8.7.8.7.8.8.7 meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in CW93 10, ELH 100, lsb 514, lw 176. Sung to BRIDEGROOM.
The hymn emphasizes vigilant Christian living in anticipation of Christ's parousia, reflecting Lutheran eschatological hope grounded in Christ's promise. It combines the Reformation emphasis on readiness through faith with the traditional bridal imagery of the church awaiting her Lord.
History & Background
Philipp Nicolai composed this hymn in 1599 as part of a devotional work during a plague outbreak in Westphalia. The text was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in 1863 and has been widely used in Lutheran hymnals since.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship — 10
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 100
- Lutheran Service Book — 514
- Lutheran Worship — 176
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 67
Translation
Bulletin Note
Philipp Nicolai (1556–1608) composed this hymn during plague in Westphalia, wrestling with mortality and Christ's parousia. Its twin melody BRIDEGROOM became a cornerstone of Lutheran mystical theology and personal devotion.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the eschatological tension of Law and Gospel: the call to readiness mirrors the Law's demand for righteousness, while the promised joy of meeting the Bridegroom anchors believers in Gospel certainty.
Background Research
Johann Walter (1496–1570), the 'first cantor of the Lutheran Church'. He was a singer in Frederick the Wise's chapel from 1517, Kapellmeister at Torgau from 1524, when he published the first Lutheran choir book with Luther, and helped with the music of the Deutsche Messe (1525). The source is a 34-stanza poem printed at Wittenberg in 1552: 'A Beautiful Spiritual and Christian New Miners' Song of the Last Day and Eternal Life', modelled on a folk song (Herzlich tut mich erfreuen). It covers Christ's return, the wise and foolish virgins (Matt 25:1–13) and the marriage feast of the Lamb. Melchior Franck picked out stanzas 31, 8, 9, 16, 18, 17 and 13 as 'Der Bräutgam wird bald rufen' (Rosetulum musicum, Coburg, 1627), the seven-stanza form TLH prints. LW and LSB print shorter four-stanza selections. Tune: ACH GOTT VOM HIMMELREICHE, edited by Praetorius (Musae Sioniae VII, 1609), popular after Layriz (1848). One of Walter's last works was a polyphonic tribute to Luther.
Sources: LCMS resources (Jonathan Swett).
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Last Sunday of the Church Year (7×)
- Trinity 2 (3×)
- Trinity 20 (3×)
- Advent 2 (2×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 16 (2×)
- Proper 27 (2×)
- Proper 23 (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.
Overview
By Johann Walter, Luther's musical collaborator and the first Lutheran cantor, from a longer hymn on the joys of heaven. Based on the parable of the virgins (Matt 25:6), it prays for burning lamps when the Bridegroom calls (st. 1), then describes heaven: seeing the Redeemer and meeting the saints (st. 2), being owned as family (st. 3), the Father's embrace and crowns (st. 4), endless music (st. 5), the feast (st. 6), and freedom from every evil (st. 7). It is one of the fullest pictures of heaven in Lutheran hymnody.
Central theme: Readiness for the Bridegroom and the joys of heaven: seeing Christ, the saints, the Father's love, the feast, freedom from evil
Structure
Readiness (1); then six stanzas on heaven's joys.
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout; st. 1's warning against sleep is gentle exhortation.
Confessional Connections
AC XVII: eternal life and joy for the godly. Heaven as communion with Christ, the saints, and the Father; grace as the way to glory ('to glory by His grace').
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Last Sundays of the church year; Advent; funerals; All Saints.
Historical Notes
Walter (1496-1570) compiled the first Lutheran choir book (1524) with Luther; the hymn is from 1552.
About the Tune
ACH GOTT VOM HIMMELREICHE (Leipzig, 1589).
Scripture References
Matt 25:1-13 1 Cor 13:12 Heb 12:22-24 Heb 2:11 Luke 15:20 2 Tim 4:8 Rev 5:9-12 Isa 25:6-8 Rev 19:9 Rev 21:4
Stanza by Stanza
The Bridegroom will soon call us: come, wedding guests; may his voice not terrify us while sleep holds us; may our lamps be burning with oil in store, so that returning with him we find the door open.
Matt 25:1-13. The call (25:6); the danger of spiritual sleep (25:5; Rom 13:11); lamps and oil — commonly read as faith kept alive by the Word and Spirit. 'May open find the door' — the foolish virgins found it shut (25:10-12). The tone is prayer, not threat: 'May not His voice appal us.'
- Scripture
- Matt 25:1-13, Rom 13:11, Luke 12:35-37, 1 Thess 5:4-8
- Imagery & language
- Bridegroom; wedding guests; lamps and oil; door.
- Law / Gospel
- Exhortation to readiness with Gospel hope.
- Connection to previous
- Readiness.
There we will joyfully see our dear Redeemer's face, who leads our darkened souls to glory by his grace; patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs will meet and greet us in that heavenly land.
The first joy of heaven: seeing Christ (1 Cor 13:12; Rev 22:4). 'To glory by His grace' — glory is grace's gift. The communion of saints: patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs (Heb 11; 12:22-24; Matt 8:11) — echoing the Te Deum.
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 13:12, Rev 22:4, Heb 12:22-24, Matt 8:11
- Imagery & language
- Redeemer's face; saints greeting.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — beatific vision and communion.
- Connection to previous
- Seeing Christ and the saints.
The saints will not be ashamed to call us brothers and sisters; love will be shown us when we appear with them; we will all come before him who became man for us, adore him as Lord and God, and bless his name forever.
'Not blush to own us' — echoes Heb 2:11 ('he is not ashamed to call them brothers') and Heb 11:16. The family of God in heaven (Eph 3:15). 'Him / Who for us man became, / As Lord and God adore Him' — the incarnate Christ worshiped as God (John 20:28).
- Scripture
- Heb 2:11, Heb 11:16, Eph 3:15, John 20:28, Rev 7:9-10
- Imagery & language
- Brothers and sisters; adoration.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — family of God.
- Connection to previous
- Family.
Our Father, rich in blessing, will give us golden crowns, press us to his heart, give us untold joy, welcome us with embraces of endless love, and adorn us with his graces in heaven.
The Father's welcome, like the father of the prodigal (Luke 15:20-24: embrace, robe, ring). 'Crowns of gold' (2 Tim 4:8; Rev 4:4). 'Deck us with His graces' — the robe of righteousness (Isa 61:10). Heaven is above all the Father's love.
- Scripture
- Luke 15:20-24, 2 Tim 4:8, Rev 4:4, Isa 61:10, 1 John 3:1
- Imagery & language
- Embrace; crowns; adornment.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Father's welcome.
- Connection to previous
- The Father's embrace.
In that home music will never fall silent; with hearts and lips we will rejoice in God forever; angels will adore him, and all saints will sing his praise and bring their sweetest songs before him.
Heaven's endless worship (Rev 5:9-12; 14:2-3; 15:2-4). Walter, a musician, gives music a place in heaven — fitting for the first Lutheran cantor. 'Hearts and lips' — inner joy and outward praise together.
- Scripture
- Rev 5:9-12, Rev 14:2-3, Rev 15:2-4, Ps 84:4
- Imagery & language
- Music; angels; heavenly lays.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology — eternal worship.
- Connection to previous
- Endless music.
In beautiful, spacious mansions God will prepare the feast and kindly invite us to share its riches; there joy beyond measure will flow from springs of love, and his generosity will give unchanging pleasure.
'Mansions' (John 14:2). The feast (Isa 25:6-8; Matt 8:11; Rev 19:9). 'Springs of love' (Rev 7:17; 22:1). 'Never-changing pleasure' (Ps 16:11). The Lord's Supper is a foretaste (Matt 26:29).
- Scripture
- John 14:2, Isa 25:6-8, Rev 19:9, Rev 7:17, Ps 16:11, Matt 26:29
- Imagery & language
- Mansions; feast; springs.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — heavenly banquet.
- Connection to previous
- The feast.
So God will free us forever from all evil — from sin and the devil, from all adversity, sickness, pain, sadness, troubles, cares, and fears — and give us heavenly joy and wipe away our tears.
The Seventh Petition fulfilled: 'deliver us from evil,' which Luther explains as deliverance from all evil of body and soul and finally a blessed end. Note the order: sin and the devil first. 'Wipe away our tears' (Isa 25:8; Rev 7:17; 21:4).
- Scripture
- Matt 6:13, Rev 21:4, Isa 25:8, Rev 7:17, Rom 8:21
- Imagery & language
- Freedom from evil; wiped tears.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — final deliverance.
- Connection to previous
- Freedom from all evil.
Themes
Christ's return Vigilance and readiness Eschatology Bridal theology Judgment