Jesus's Words

Hark! The Harold Angels Sing

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About the Carol

"Hark! The Harold Angels Sing" was first published in 1739 by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) as "Hark, How all the Welkin Rings." It was not until 1753 when George Whitefield (1714-1770) altered the first two lines into what we know today.

Lyrics Back to Top ↑

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th' incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Come, Desire of nations, come,
fix in us thy humble home;
rise, the woman's conquering Seed,
bruise in us the serpent's head.
Adam's likeness, Lord, efface;
stamp thine image in its place.
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Adam's likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Analysis of Carol Back to Top ↑

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th' incarnate Deity,

Jesus is Lord and shows the way to the Father. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.John 14:7

pleased as man with man to dwell,

And Jesus was human, so much so that John writes that this is a distinguishing feature of the Spirit of God, Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.1st John 4:2

Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Yes, Jesus was born on Earth, but he was in heaven before he was on Earth. That is why Jesus os able to say, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.John 5:58

Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,

True. Jesus said, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.John 8:12

risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,

This is a tricky line. We cannot interpret it to mean that there is no more death on Earth, as people are still dying. Instead, it should be interpreted as saying that Jesus is bringing eternal life. Even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.John 3:14, 15

born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give us second birth.

Another truth. This is why Jesus said to Nicodemus, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.John 3:3

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Come, Desire of nations, come,
fix in us thy humble home;

The term "Desire of Nations" comes from a prophecy in Haggai, who wrote, And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.Haggai 2:7

rise, the woman's conquering Seed,
bruise in us the serpent's head.

This is in reference to perhaps the first prophecy in the Bible, spoken of by God to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.Genesis 3:15

Adam's likeness, Lord, efface;
stamp thine image in its place.
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.

It's possible the author is speaking about the restriction here, when we will all be given glorified bodies. John wrote about this as well, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.1st John 3:2

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Adam's likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"
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