Many of the versions of this hymn all stem from the same Bible passage: Luke 2:6-20. The earliest known printed version of this hymn was from a French song book in the early 1800s. We don’t know exactly where this song originated from because it has no annotated author. However, we can presume it originated in France sometime in the mid-to-late 1700s or the early 1800s. The French wrote many of the popular Christmas carols (“Chants de Noël”) that we find in our English hymnals today.
In 1862, James Chadwick, a Roman Catholic Bishop in Hexham and Newcastle, England, translated the hymn into English. In 1935, this hymn was included in Methodist hymnals to accompany the play, “The Nativity” and used the text “Hearken all! What holy singing now is sounding from the sky!” In the 1966 Methodist Hymnal, the text was changed to “Angels we have heard on high!”
The first stanza and refrain are:
“Angels we have heard on high. Sweetly singing o'er the plains. And the mountains in reply. Echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.”
The first stanza is in line with a very common theme throughout the history of Christian hymns: the cosmic chorus. This cosmic chorus begins with the angels in heaven. We can find this canticle of the angels in Luke 2:14 (ESV): “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” Now, in Luke 2:13, it is written that the angels “say” these words, but I imagine it’s not much of a leap to think that angels speaking could sound a lot like they’re singing. Plus, saying the angels “sang” the words instead of “said” the words doesn’t take away from the glory of God. Also, the phrase “Gloria in excelsis Deo” is Latin for “Glory to God in the highest!”
The cosmic chorus continues when the mountains reply to the angels, echoing back their response of worship and praise to God. In fact, all of creation gives praise to God as it participates in the joy of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the back of the donkey colt? His followers spread their cloaks out on the ground, waved palm branches in the air, and cried out “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13 ESV).
The multitude of His disciples were rejoicing as Jesus came to Jerusalem, saying: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38 ESV). The Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus to rebuke them, to which He replied: “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:40 ESV). Jesus was speaking to all of creation singing its praises to Him, proclaiming the great Gospel news of what God has and will do for us.
The second stanza and refrain are:
“Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be? Which inspire your heavenly song. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.”
In contrast to the first stanza’s joyous and festive spirit, the second stanza asks why the shepherds were so overjoyed by the annunciation of the birth of Jesus Christ by the angels, found in Luke 2:6-14.
We find the shepherds’ response to this annunciation in Luke 2:15-20. The shepherds wasted no time; they “went with haste” to Bethlehem to see that which was just made known to them. And they found Mary, Jospeh, and baby Jesus lying in a manger. They excitedly told the holy family about the angels’ announcement to them concerning Jesus. Mary treasured this in her heart, affirming to her once more that Jesus indeed was the true Son of God.
Then the shepherds returned to the fields, proclaiming to all the glory of God, praising Him with shouts of “Gloria in excelsis Deo!” Why would the shepherds celebrate like this? Because they had just witnessed the annunciation of the Christ child AND got to see Him face-to-face! What a night!
The original third stanza and refrain are:
“Come to Bethlehem and see. Him whose birth the angels sing. Come adore on bended knee. Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.”
This version of the third stanza and refrain are:
“See Him in the manger laid. Whom the choir of angels praise. Mary Joseph lend your aid. While our hearts in love we raise. Come adore on bended knee. Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.”
So, for KING + COUNTRY still essentially sang the same verse, but they just split it up and added a couple of lines to make it sound a little less like a hymn and more like a modern, contemporary Christmas carol. I think they did a good job in their version.
The third stanza clearly invites everyone to come and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, our Savior, who came down from heaven to save us. This news is not meant for only Christians; it is meant for all who will hear it. The appropriate response to the news of the birth of the Messiah, is to get on your knees and worship Him. But that should not be your only response to the Gospel news of Jesus Christ; you should also run out to tell everyone about it with joy overfilling your heart.
Especially us today, since we have the benefit of hindsight that the shepherds that night did not have, we know exactly what Jesus came to do. We know that He was born so that He could suffer and die on the cross for our sins. He did not bring external peace to earth, He brought internal peace to all who believe in Him and are therefore saved.
Make no mistake about it, Jesus Christ will return again one day, to judge all the earth. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. (Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus will be exalted among all the nations and He will be exalted in all the earth. (Psalm 46:10).
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Soli Deo Gloria!
Philip Frank
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