When My Last Hour Is Close at Hand

When my last hour is close at hand

When My Last Hour Is Close at Hand is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1602) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in ELH 481, lw 298, tlh 594.

This hymn embodies Lutheran theology of dying in faith, emphasizing the comfort found in Christ's promise of eternal life and the believer's union with Christ through faith. It reflects the Lutheran understanding of death as a transition to eternal communion with God rather than a final ending.

History & Background

Martin Behm's German hymn "Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist" was published in 1602 as part of Lutheran devotional literature during the post-Reformation period. Catherine Winkworth translated it into English in 1863, making it available to English-speaking Lutheran congregations.

Hymnal Appearances

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 481
Lutheran Worship — 298
The Lutheran Hymnal — 594

Translation

Catherine Winkworth

Bulletin Note

Composed by Martin Behm in 1602, this hymn reflects deep Lutheran conviction about dying in faith. Behm wrote from lived experience of plague and loss, crafting words of genuine comfort grounded in Christ's promise and presence.

Preaching Connection

This hymn transforms the Law's stark reality of human mortality into Gospel proclamation: Christ's passion and resurrection make death a doorway to eternal life rather than final darkness.

Background Research

AI-assisted draft This background note was researched with AI from published hymnal sources and has not yet been checked line by line. Please verify details such as dates before relying on them.

Sts. 1-4 by Nikolaus Herman (c. 1500-1561), cantor at the Latin school of Joachimsthal in Bohemia from 1518, who worked alongside the pastor Johannes Mathesius; a letter from Luther to him survives (1524). St. 5 anonymous. Melody possibly Herman's own. Bach closed the Easter cantata BWV 31 (1715) with the melody and BWV 95 (1723) with st. 4. Still EG 522. Source: Wikipedia 'Nikolaus Herman'.

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

Nikolaus Herman's classic Lutheran deathbed hymn. Lord Jesus, stand by me at my last hour; into your hands I commend my soul (st. 1). My sins are as many as the sands, but I will think of your death and sorrow borne for me (st. 2). I am a branch in you, the Vine, and your death has won me unending life (st. 3). Because you broke death's power and ascended, where you are I shall be (st. 4). A later stanza (1575): I commend my spirit, sleep in peace, and Christ will carry me into life (st. 5).

Central theme: Facing death by fleeing from the accusations of sin to Christ's suffering, resurrection and ascension

Structure

Five seven-line stanzas (8.7.8.7.8.8.7). Committal (1); the terrified conscience (2); Vine and branch (3); Easter and Ascension (4); peaceful sleep (5).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law: 'My sins, dear Lord, disturb me sore, / My conscience cannot slumber… as sands upon the shore' (2). Gospel: 'Thy death, Thy sorrow, borne for me… shall uphold me'; 'Thy precious death hath won for me / The life that never endeth' (2-4).

Confessional Connections

John 15:5 (TLH's text): 'I am the vine; you are the branches.' St. 2 is the terrified conscience (terrores conscientiae; AC XII; Ap XII) answered not by looking at ourselves but by looking at Christ: 'I will not quail, but think of Thee; / Thy death, Thy sorrow, borne for me.' This is the Lutheran deathbed comfort in its purest form (cf. Luther's Sermon on Preparing to Die, 1519: look at death and sin only in Christ). St. 3: union with Christ as the branch's security (John 15). St. 4 links our hope to the Ascension: 'where Thou art, there shall I be' (John 14:3; AC III, 'ascended… that He may… sanctify… defend them against the devil').

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Funerals; deathbed; visitation of the sick and dying; Trinity 16; Ascension.

Historical Notes

Herman (c. 1480/1500-1561), cantor at Joachimsthal, first published st. 1-4 in 1562 (verify). St. 5 was added anonymously by 1575. TLH's author field names only the st. 5 author; Herman is listed in the byline.

About the Tune

WENN MEIN STÜNDLEIN (Kirchengesäng, Frankfurt am Main, 1569).

Scripture References

John 15:5 Ps 31:5 Luke 23:46 Acts 7:59 Ps 40:12 Gen 22:17 Isa 53:4-6 John 15:1-5 Rom 8:38-39 Rom 14:8 John 10:28 Heb 2:14-15 1 Cor 15:54-57 John 14:3 John 17:24 1 Thess 4:14 Acts 7:56

Stanza by Stanza

1 When my last hour is close at hand,…

When my last hour is near, Lord Jesus Christ, be with me; stand beside me then, Savior, to comfort and defend me. I will commend my soul into your hands at my earthly end, and you will keep it safe.

'Into your hand I commit my spirit' (Ps 31:5; Luke 23:46). 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit' (Acts 7:59). 'No one will snatch them out of my hand' (John 10:28).

Scripture: Ps 31:5, Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59, John 10:28
Imagery & language: Last hour; attend; comfort; commend my soul; keep safely.
Law / Gospel: Gospel: Christ at the deathbed.
Connection to previous: Committal.

death committal Christ's presence

2 My sins, dear Lord, disturb me sore,…

My sins trouble me badly, dear Lord, and my conscience cannot rest; but though my sins may be as many as the sands on the shore, I will not lose heart. I will think of you: your death and the sorrow you bore for me, your sufferings, will hold me up.

'My iniquities have overtaken me… they are more than the hairs of my head' (Ps 40:12). 'As the sand that is on the seashore' (Gen 22:17). 'He was pierced for our transgressions' (Isa 53:5). Ap XII on terrors of conscience.

Scripture: Ps 40:12, Gen 22:17, Isa 53:4-6
Imagery & language: Sins disturb; conscience; sands; think of Thee; Thy death.
Law / Gospel: Law: the accusing conscience. Gospel: Christ's suffering for me.
Connection to previous: Think of Thee.

terrified conscience atonement justification

3 I am a branch in Thee, the Vine,…

I am a branch in you, the Vine, and I take comfort from this: you will surely keep me yours through fear, pain and sorrow. And when I die, I die to you; your precious death has won for me the life that never ends.

'I am the vine; you are the branches' (John 15:5). 'Neither death nor life… will be able to separate us' (Rom 8:38-39). 'If we die, we die to the Lord' (Rom 14:8).

Scripture: John 15:1-5, Rom 8:38-39, Rom 14:8
Imagery & language: Branch and Vine; kept; die to Thee; life unending.
Law / Gospel: Gospel: union and its fruit, eternal life.
Connection to previous: The Vine.

union with Christ perseverance eternal life

4 Since Thou the power of death didst rend,…

Since you broke the power of death, you will not leave me in death; since you ascended into heaven, no fear of death will trouble me. For where you are, I will be, so that I may live with you forever. That is my hope as I die.

'That through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death' (Heb 2:14). 'Where I am you may be also' (John 14:3). 'Father, I desire that they also… may be with me where I am' (John 17:24).

Scripture: Heb 2:14-15, 1 Cor 15:54-57, John 14:3, John 17:24
Imagery & language: Death's power rent; ascended; where Thou art; hope.
Law / Gospel: Gospel: Easter and Ascension for me.
Connection to previous: Where Thou art.

resurrection ascension hope

5 My spirit I commend to Thee…

I commend my spirit to you and gladly leave this place; my sleep will be peaceful and calm, and no human voice can wake me. But Christ is with me through the struggle, and he will carry me into life and open heaven before me.

'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!' (Luke 23:46). 'Those who have fallen asleep' (1 Thess 4:14). 'I see the heavens opened' (Acts 7:56).

Scripture: Luke 23:46, 1 Thess 4:14, Acts 7:56
Imagery & language: Spirit commended; peaceful sleep; no human voice; Christ bears me; heaven opened.
Law / Gospel: Gospel: carried into life.
Connection to previous: Heaven opened.

death committal heaven

Themes

Death and dying Trust in Christ Abiding in Christ Divine comfort Preparation for eternity

Look Further

Search Hymnary.org for "When My Last Hour Is Close at Hand" ↗