O Come O Come Immanuel And Ransom
Chorus
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Verse 1
O COME, O come, Immanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.
Verse 2
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height, In ancient times didst give the law In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Verse 3
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save, And give them victory over the grave.
Verse 4
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Verse 5
O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.
History of O Come O Come Immanuel And Ransom
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "The Ransom Hymn" are, in fact, **the same hymn**. The title "Ransom Hymn" comes directly from one of its most famous lines: "O come, O come, Emmanuel, and **ransom captive Israel**."
This powerful Advent hymn has a rich history that spans over a millennium, blending ancient prophecy, medieval liturgy, and 19th-century translation.
Here's its story, arranged for easy reading:
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The History of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (The Ransom Hymn)
# 1. The Ancient Roots: The "O Antiphons" (7th-8th Century AD) * **What are they?** The hymn's text originates from a series of seven short, daily prayers known as the "O Antiphons." An antiphon is a short sentence sung or recited before and after a psalm or canticle. * **When & Where?** These antiphons were used in monastic and cathedral liturgies, particularly during the evening prayer (Vespers) of the Roman Catholic Church, likely dating back to the 7th or 8th century. * **Purpose:** Each antiphon is a fervent plea for the coming of the Messiah, using a different Messianic title derived from Old Testament prophecies. They are recited daily from December 17th to December 23rd, leading up to Christmas Eve. * **The Seven Titles:** Each antiphon begins with "O" and addresses Christ with a different title: * **O Sapientia** (O Wisdom) * **O Adonai** (O Lord of Might / Leader of the House of Israel) * **O Radix Jesse** (O Root of Jesse) * **O Clavis David** (O Key of David) * **O Oriens** (O Dayspring / Radiant Dawn) * **O Rex Gentium** (O King of the Nations) * **O Emmanuel** (O God With Us) * *(Interestingly, the first letter of each Latin title, read backward, forms an acrostic: **E.R.O.C.R.A.S.** which can be interpreted as "Ero Cras" meaning "Tomorrow I will be [there]" or "I will be there tomorrow.")*
# 2. From Antiphon to Hymn: The Latin "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" (18th Century) * **Compilation:** Sometime between the O Antiphons' origin and the 18th century, these separate devotional phrases were compiled into a rhyming, metrical hymn in Latin: "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" (Come, Come, Emmanuel). * **First Appearance:** The earliest known appearance of this Latin hymn in print was in a German hymnal, *Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum*, published in Cologne in 1710. This is where the structure of verses with a repeated refrain likely solidified.
# 3. The English Translation: John Mason Neale (1851) * **The Translator:** The hymn became widely known in the English-speaking world thanks to the English hymnologist and priest **John Mason Neale**. * **Context:** Neale was a key figure in the Oxford Movement, which sought to revive ancient liturgical practices and hymnody within the Anglican Church. * **Publication:** In 1851, Neale translated five of the Latin antiphons into the English verses we sing today, and published them in his influential collection, *Hymnal Noted*. He crafted the iconic refrain: "Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel." * **Why "Ransom Hymn"?** The most prominent verse, "O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel," directly establishes the theme of redemption and liberation that gives the hymn its alternative name. It speaks to Christ as the one who frees humanity from the bondage of sin and death.
# 4. The Enduring Melody (15th Century & Later Pairing) * **The Tune's Origin:** The distinctive, solemn, and haunting melody we associate with "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is much older than Neale's translation. It's believed to be a 15th-century French processional chant, possibly from a Mass for the Dead (*Missa pro defunctis*). * **The Pairing:** This ancient plainsong-like melody was paired with Neale's English text by **Thomas Helmore**, Neale's musical editor, and published in the second part of *Hymnal Noted* in 1854. * **Character:** The tune's modal quality and relatively narrow range give it an ancient, contemplative feel, perfectly matching the longing and hopeful anticipation expressed in the lyrics.
# 5. Enduring Significance and "Ransom" Meaning * **Advent Staple:** "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" quickly became, and remains, one of the most beloved and essential hymns of the Advent season. It powerfully captures the longing of humanity for the Messiah, connecting Old Testament prophecies with Christ's first coming and his promised second coming. * **"Ransom" Explained:** The "ransom" imagery is central to Christian theology. It refers to Christ paying the ultimate price (his life) to free humanity from the "captivity" of sin, death, and the devil. It's a plea for deliverance and salvation. * **"Emmanuel" Explained:** The name "Emmanuel" (Hebrew for "God with us") is a direct prophecy from Isaiah (7:14) about the coming Messiah. The hymn's final plea, and the refrain's triumphant declaration, celebrate the arrival of God's presence among humanity through Jesus Christ. --- In summary, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is a beautiful tapestry woven from centuries of faith, beginning with ancient Hebrew longing, formalized in medieval Latin prayers, translated and popularized in 19th-century England, and set to an age-old, evocative melody. It remains a powerful call for Christ's presence, echoing the plea to "ransom captive Israel" and proclaim "God with us."
The History of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (The Ransom Hymn)
# 1. The Ancient Roots: The "O Antiphons" (7th-8th Century AD) * **What are they?** The hymn's text originates from a series of seven short, daily prayers known as the "O Antiphons." An antiphon is a short sentence sung or recited before and after a psalm or canticle. * **When & Where?** These antiphons were used in monastic and cathedral liturgies, particularly during the evening prayer (Vespers) of the Roman Catholic Church, likely dating back to the 7th or 8th century. * **Purpose:** Each antiphon is a fervent plea for the coming of the Messiah, using a different Messianic title derived from Old Testament prophecies. They are recited daily from December 17th to December 23rd, leading up to Christmas Eve. * **The Seven Titles:** Each antiphon begins with "O" and addresses Christ with a different title: * **O Sapientia** (O Wisdom) * **O Adonai** (O Lord of Might / Leader of the House of Israel) * **O Radix Jesse** (O Root of Jesse) * **O Clavis David** (O Key of David) * **O Oriens** (O Dayspring / Radiant Dawn) * **O Rex Gentium** (O King of the Nations) * **O Emmanuel** (O God With Us) * *(Interestingly, the first letter of each Latin title, read backward, forms an acrostic: **E.R.O.C.R.A.S.** which can be interpreted as "Ero Cras" meaning "Tomorrow I will be [there]" or "I will be there tomorrow.")*
# 2. From Antiphon to Hymn: The Latin "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" (18th Century) * **Compilation:** Sometime between the O Antiphons' origin and the 18th century, these separate devotional phrases were compiled into a rhyming, metrical hymn in Latin: "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" (Come, Come, Emmanuel). * **First Appearance:** The earliest known appearance of this Latin hymn in print was in a German hymnal, *Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum*, published in Cologne in 1710. This is where the structure of verses with a repeated refrain likely solidified.
# 3. The English Translation: John Mason Neale (1851) * **The Translator:** The hymn became widely known in the English-speaking world thanks to the English hymnologist and priest **John Mason Neale**. * **Context:** Neale was a key figure in the Oxford Movement, which sought to revive ancient liturgical practices and hymnody within the Anglican Church. * **Publication:** In 1851, Neale translated five of the Latin antiphons into the English verses we sing today, and published them in his influential collection, *Hymnal Noted*. He crafted the iconic refrain: "Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel." * **Why "Ransom Hymn"?** The most prominent verse, "O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel," directly establishes the theme of redemption and liberation that gives the hymn its alternative name. It speaks to Christ as the one who frees humanity from the bondage of sin and death.
# 4. The Enduring Melody (15th Century & Later Pairing) * **The Tune's Origin:** The distinctive, solemn, and haunting melody we associate with "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is much older than Neale's translation. It's believed to be a 15th-century French processional chant, possibly from a Mass for the Dead (*Missa pro defunctis*). * **The Pairing:** This ancient plainsong-like melody was paired with Neale's English text by **Thomas Helmore**, Neale's musical editor, and published in the second part of *Hymnal Noted* in 1854. * **Character:** The tune's modal quality and relatively narrow range give it an ancient, contemplative feel, perfectly matching the longing and hopeful anticipation expressed in the lyrics.
# 5. Enduring Significance and "Ransom" Meaning * **Advent Staple:** "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" quickly became, and remains, one of the most beloved and essential hymns of the Advent season. It powerfully captures the longing of humanity for the Messiah, connecting Old Testament prophecies with Christ's first coming and his promised second coming. * **"Ransom" Explained:** The "ransom" imagery is central to Christian theology. It refers to Christ paying the ultimate price (his life) to free humanity from the "captivity" of sin, death, and the devil. It's a plea for deliverance and salvation. * **"Emmanuel" Explained:** The name "Emmanuel" (Hebrew for "God with us") is a direct prophecy from Isaiah (7:14) about the coming Messiah. The hymn's final plea, and the refrain's triumphant declaration, celebrate the arrival of God's presence among humanity through Jesus Christ. --- In summary, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is a beautiful tapestry woven from centuries of faith, beginning with ancient Hebrew longing, formalized in medieval Latin prayers, translated and popularized in 19th-century England, and set to an age-old, evocative melody. It remains a powerful call for Christ's presence, echoing the plea to "ransom captive Israel" and proclaim "God with us."
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