November 29 

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 

TEXT: Latin antiphon

Translated, John Mason Neale, 1710

12th c. Latin hymn

An “antiphon” is a song that is sung back and forth between two groups with a call and response. “Anti” means opposite; “phon” means voice or sound. In the church of the Middle Ages, worshipers would sing seven antiphons the week before Christmas, all beginning with “O Come.” They were called the “Great O’s.” Each would use an Old Testament name for the coming Messiah. Five of these names are:

Immanuel (God with us) | Isaiah 7:14

Rod of Jesse (David’s offspring) | Isaiah 11:1, 10

Dayspring (Morning Star) | Numbers 24:17

Key of David | Isaiah 22:22

Desire of Nations | Haggai 2:7

By the twelfth century, these antiphons became the Latin Hymn, sung as one song. Each verse asks the coming Messiah to ransom, save, cheer, guide, and bring peace to the world. Following these “calls,” the congregation “responds,” knowing by faith that these requests will be heard and answered.

TUNE: Plainsong, 13th c.

The tune name, VENI EMMANUEL, is Latin for “Come, Emmanuel.” It is based on the Latin plainsongs (or chants) of the thirteenth century and first appears in Hymnal Noted, Part II (London, 1854) arranged by Thomas Helmore. Try to sing the first stanza in Latin (similar to Spanish) to connect more viscerally with the early church.

As you sing this hymn … you are offering a prayer similar to the prayer that Israel prayed for centuries: delivery from civil oppressors such as Babylon and Rome. We pray to be released from this world’s oppressions, but especially the oppression of sin and death. Similarly, the Old Testament prophets spoke of a day when God would ransom Israel from death and captivity. Wonderfully, this is the work Jesus came to do—to offer His life as a ransom for the sins of many (Matt. 20:28). Consider the definition of the word “ransom,” prominent in the first stanza of the hymn.

A person is kidnapped, and often the kidnappers demand a ransom to be paid. Death makes just such a demand for payment on us. Unlike kidnappers, however, death’s demand is just. We deserve to die for our sin (see Rom. 6:23). The good news of the gospel is that Jesus pays this ransom for all who repent and believe.

There is much sorrow in this world. John Piper wrote, “It is a wonderful thing that there are Christmas carols that are written for the real world of sorrowful joy.”¹¹ That’s what Christ’s ransom produces in us—sorrowful joy. So we exclaim, “Rejoice! Rejoice!” What greater joy could we know than, in this evil world, God is with us? The ransom has been paid. His coming cheers us, closing the path to misery and making safe the way to our heavenly home. If you are experiencing sorrow this Christmas, may this hymn lift those burdens and give you joy.