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Song: O come, o come, Emmanuel
1. Song: O come, o come, Emmanuel
A popular Christmas song based on Matthew 1:23 and Isaiah 7:14 is "
O come, o come, Emmanuel".
The name of the song depends on which name is used, the Hebrew-based "
Immanuel" or the Greek-based "
Emmanuel".
The text originates from the Middle Ages as a Latin call and response (antiphona) chant. It was often used during vesper (evening) service.
2. The belt buckle
In high school, Uncle Donny gave me a German belt buckle from his service in World War II. The Nazi swastika is surrounded by the words
"Gott mit uns", or
"God with us", from the Luther Bible 400 years earlier. The verse is often read at Christmas.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23.
German: … Emanuel … Gott mit uns.
Russian: … Еммануил, … с нами Бог.
Latin: … Emmanuhel … Nobiscum Deus
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Psalms 16:1
Discuss: What does it mean to put "
In God we trust" on currency?
The Waffen SS used the motto "
Meine Ehre heißt Treue" meaning "
My honor is loyalty".
3. Translation
John M. Neele did the most common translation in 1851, with five verses. Later, two more verses were added (from the Latin) by Henry Sloane Coffin, in 1916. Note that the first verse was the last verse of the original Latin text.
John M. Neele also did the words for "
Good King Wencelas".
4. Tune : Veni Emmanuel
5. Antiphons
Each "
antiphon" has a title of Christ that is mentioned in scripture. Here are the ones listed in Wikipedia, with comments added.
17 December: O Sapientia (wisdom, as in "homo sapien")
18 December: O Adonai (Lord)
19 December: O Radix Jesse (root of Jesse, in math, a "radix" is a "root")
20 December: O Clavis David (key of David, in music a "clavis" becomes a "clef" or "key")
21 December: O Oriens (day spring, the "orient" is the "east" were the day springs up)
22 December: O Rex Gentium (king "rex" of the nations, the "gentiles")
23 December: O Emmanuel (God with us)
The Latin phrase
"ero cras" ≈ "I will be (with you) tomorrow" is an acrostic that comes from the words of the first line of each verse (in Latin, reverse verse order).
6. Acrostic
The above acrostic appears in the Latin verses as eventually used. Note that if a common change is made to #3, the acrostic pattern is broken.
7. Veni, veni
Emmanuel!
6. Veni, Veni,
Rex Gentium,
5. Veni, veni o
Oriens!
4. Veni
Clavis David!
3. Veni o
Radix Jesse (later, Veni o Jesse virgula!)
2. Veni, veni
Adonai!
1. Veni, o
Sapientia,
7. Verse references
Here are some verse references (from hymnary.org) from Greg Scheer, 1994.
"Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14, Mt 1:23) means "God with us"
"Adonai" (Exodus 19:16) is a name for God, the giver of the law
"Branch of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1) refers to Jesus' lineage
"Oriens" (Malachi 4:2, Luke 1:78-79) is the morning star or day star
"Key of David" (Isaiah 22:22) again refers to Jesus' lineage
8. Verse 1
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
9. Verse 2
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
10. Verse 3
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
11. Verse 4
O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
12. Verse 5
O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
13. Verse 6
O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
14. Verse 7
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
15. End of page
