San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist Church

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115 O Come, O Come, Immanuel

O Come, O Come, Immanuel has a fascinating history. During the ninth century, the church sang during the Advent season the seven �O� antiphons, one each day at vespers. An �antiphon� is a responsive singing of portions of a hymn by alternate choirs, answering each other back and forth. The antiphons in question here are called the �O� antiphons because each of the seven began with a long-drawn-out �O,� followed by a designation of the Lord in one of His titles: Wisdom, Lord, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King Desired, and Immanuel.

And the music, VENI EMMANUEL, is typical of the plainsong that was customary in the early Christian church. It was sung in unison, a capella. Plainsong is similar to what is called today �Gregorian Chant.� The present one was discovered in 1966 in the Paris National Library. Its age is unknown.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee,
O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and night;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.

Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee,
O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee,
O Israel.