O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Hymn History

Christmas Song and Advent Hymn by John Mason Neale

Nov 11, 2007
Tel Asiado

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Advent Song - Tel Asiado

Short history of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," (Veni Emmanuel), a best-loved Christmas carol to the tune of "Come God with Us."

"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is an Advent hymn with Christian Latin tune name "Veni Emmanuel" (Come God with Us.) Its history originates in the medieval Roman Catholic Church, c.12th century. It was translated into English by John Mason Neale (1818-1866).

Advent, which begins four Sundays before Christmas, is the season of the church year that emphasizes the anticipation of Christ's first coming to earth. His coming as the Messiah was first prophesied in the sixth century B.C. when the Jews were captives in Babylon. For centuries, faithful Hebrews looked for their Messiah with great longing and expectation, echoing the prayer that he would "ransom captive Israel."

Early Beginnings of the Text and Melody

During the Advent season, the hymn began as a series of Antiphons-short statements sung at the beginning of the Psalm or of the Magnificat at Vespers. Each of the Antiphons greets the Savior with one of the various titles He is referred in the Scriptures, names such as "Emmanuel," "Lord of Might," "Key of David," and "Rod of Jesse." The text melody was originally a Plainsong or Chant, which is the earliest form of singing in the church.

John Mason Neale - Hymn English Translator

During the 19th-century there were Anglican ministers and scholars who developed a keen interest in translating into English many of the ancient Greek, Latin and German hymns, and made available the rich heritage of these Greek and Latin hymns. John Mason Neale was one of them.

John M. Neale was born in London, England, on January 24, 1818. A gifted scholar, he edited his own handwrwitten family magazine before he was 10 years old. He also translated into English other hymns: "The Day of Resurrection," "All Glory, Laud and Honor," and "Art Thou Weary?."

Significance of the Hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" Today

Christians rejoice with God's people of all ages upon realization that Christ the Messiah did come ages ago. Biblical references of the birth of Jesus and to believers, the real meaning of Christmas, are given in Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" which means, "God with us." Yet He now is waited with the same urgent expectation for His second advent, when victory over sin and death will be final.