Jesus's Words

In the Bleak Midwinter

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Contents

About the Carol

"In the Bleak Midwinter" was written as a poem by Chrstina Rossetti (1830-1894) in 1872 when the magazine Scribner's Monthlys requested Christmas poems. The poem caught the attention of the public, and two musicians, Gustav Holst (1874-1934) and Harold Darke (1888-1976) both wrote a melody to sing the poem to.

Lyrics Back to Top ↑

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But only his mother
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give him,
Give my heart.

Analysis of Carol Back to Top ↑

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

We do not know when Jesus was born, whether it was during the day, or the night, during the summer, or the winter. All we can be certain of is that he was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign:

These lines can be interpreted as saying. "Heaven cannot contain Jesus," but that is not quite correct. The author is trying to focus on what happens when Jesus comes back to reign. After his millennial reign,(Revelations 20:2-6.) Jesus will judge the dead and the angels(Revelations 20:7-15.) and there will be a new heaven and a new earth. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.Revelation 21:1

In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,

It is not recorded in the Bible whether cherubim specifically are worshipping Jesus, however we know that the cherubim do the work and will of God.(See Ezekiel 1 and 10 for more details regarding these angelic beings.)

A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels

There is only one archangel mentioned in the Bible: Michael. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.Jude 1:9There is no indication that any other archangel exists.

May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But only his mother
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give him,
Give my heart.
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