O Come, Now Rod of Jesse's Stem / Veni, Veni Emmanuel

Évreux Cathedral - Courtesy of Wikipedia

O Come, Now Rod of Jesse's Stem is an adaptation* of the 18th century Latin hymn Veni, Veni Emmanuel, which is based upon the Advent O Antiphons for Vespers (12th century). O Come, Now Rod of Jesse's Stem is set to the tune: Veni Emmanuel, an adaption by Rev. Thomas Helmore (1811-1890) of a 15th century French Franciscan processional which some scholars attribute to an earlier 8th Century Gregorian Chant. In the Divine Office (1974), O Come, Now Rod of Jesse's Stem is sung during Advent for December 17th up until Christmas. Related: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.


Tune: Veni Emmanuel

O COME, THOU ROD OF JESSE'S STEM - (Public Domain)

1. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
From every foe deliver them
That trust your mighty power to save,
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,
              Shall come to you, O Israel!

2. O come, now Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home,
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

3. O come, now Day-spring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadow put to flight.

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

* The Divine Office (1974) has attributed the translation of Veni, Veni Emmanuel to Thomas Helmore. This seems unlikely since he is not known to have been a translator of Latin hymns.


Latin Verses: 1, 6, 5, 3 (see below) - preformed by Haley Westernra

VENI, VENI, EMMANUEL - (Public Domain)

1. Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
captivum solve Israel,
qui gemit in exsilio,
privatus Dei Filio.

Refrain: Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
              Nascetur pro te Israel!

2. Veni, O Sapientia,
quae hic disponis omnia,
veni, viam prudentiae
ut doceas et gloriae.

3. Veni, veni, Adonai,
qui populo in Sinai
legem dedisti vertice
in maiestate gloriae.

4. Veni, O Iesse virgula,
ex hostis tuos ungula,
de spectu tuos tartari
educ et antro barathri.

5. Veni, Clavis Davidica,
regna reclude caelica,
fac iter tutum superum,
et claude vias inferum.

6. Veni, veni O Oriens,
solare nos adveniens,
noctis depelle nebulas,
dirasque mortis tenebras.

7. Veni, veni, Rex Gentium,
veni, Redemptor omnium,
ut salvas tuos famulos
peccati sibi conscios.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel / Veni, Veni, Emmanuel

Rejoice! Rejoice!, O Israel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is a translation by the Anglican Minister, John Mason Neale (1818-1866) of the original latin Vespers hymn Veni Veni Emmanuel (see 2nd video), sung during Advent. It draws upon Matthew's Nativity narrative (1:23) where he quotes the Septuagint (Isaiah 7:14) - "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel." The music is an adaption by Thomas Helmore (1811-1890) of a 15th Century French Franciscan Processional some scholars attribute to an earlier 8th Century Gregorian Chant. In the Liturgy of the Hours, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is used during Advent. Related: O Come, Now Rod of Jesse's Stem.



O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL by John M. Neale, 1851 (Public Domain)

1. 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.

2. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

3. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

4. O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

 5. O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

 6. O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

 7. O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

 8. 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.


Latin Verses: 1, 6, 5, 3 (see below) - preformed by Haley Westernra

VENI, VENI, EMMANUEL (Public Domain)

1. Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
 captivum solve Israel,
qui gemit in exsilio,
privatus Dei Filio.

Refrain: Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel, nascetur pro te Israel!

2. Veni, O Sapientia,
quae hic disponis omnia,
veni, viam prudentiae
ut doceas et gloriae.

3. Veni, veni, Adonai,
qui populo in Sinai
legem dedisti vertice
in maiestate gloriae.

4. Veni, O Iesse virgula,
ex hostis tuos ungula,
de spectu tuos tartari
educ et antro barathri.

5. Veni, Clavis Davidica,
regna reclude caelica,
fac iter tutum superum,
et claude vias inferum.

6. Veni, veni O Oriens,
solare nos adveniens,
noctis depelle nebulas,
dirasque mortis tenebras.

7. Veni, veni, Rex Gentium,
veni, Redemptor omnium,
ut salvas tuos famulos
peccati sibi conscios.