We Three Kings

About the Carol

"We Three Kings," also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" and "The Quest of the Magi" is a carol that was written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. (1820-1891) in 1857. He wrote the carol for a Christmas pageant in New York City.

Lyrics ^{Back to Top ↑}

Analysis of Carol ^{Back to Top ↑}

We do not know if the wise men were kings, but if they were, it would seem odd for them to be giving homage to another king. King Herod worried at this news. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.^{Matthew 2:3}

And they must have traveled across these, since they went to Jerusalem first, and then to Bethlehem.

The wise men said to King Herod, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.^{Matthew 2:2} The wise men are not saying that they saw the star hanging in the eastern sky, but they, when they were in the east, saw the star in the western sky. This is how the star can lead these wise men westward, even through thy are from the east.

As recorded by the prophet Micah, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.^{Micah 5:2}

Mary, sister of Martha, agree with this. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.^{John 12:3}

A reference to Jesus's torture and crucifixion.

The tomb that Jesus was laid in: And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.^{Matthew 27:59, 60}