Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The Campbells Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn 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 them second birth




Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" by The Campbells convey a powerful message of joy and celebration at the birth of Jesus Christ, the newborn King. The song begins by calling all nations to listen to the message of the angels proclaiming glory to the newborn King and announcing peace on earth and mercy for sinners. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, focusing on the significance of Christ's birth in Bethlehem.


The lyrics then shift to emphasizing the divine nature of Christ as the highest heaven adored and the everlasting Lord. The imagery of Christ coming as the offspring of the favored one and being veiled in flesh highlights the miraculous and humble nature of the Incarnation. The mention of Jesus as Emmanuel, meaning "God with us," underscores the concept of God becoming man to dwell among humanity, bridging the gap between God and sinners for reconciliation.


The song continues to exalt Jesus as the heaven-born Prince of Peace and the Son of Righteousness, symbolizing his role as the source of light and life for all. The reference to Him being born to raise the sons of earth and give them second birth speaks to the redemptive purpose of Christ's coming, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him. The imagery of Christ laying down His glory and taking on human form demonstrates his sacrificial love and mission to save mankind from death and sin.


The powerful and uplifting chorus of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" echoes the proclamation of glory to the newborn King, reinforcing the central theme of worship and adoration for the miraculous event of Christ's birth. The song serves as a declaration of praise and thanksgiving for the arrival of Jesus as the Savior of the world, bringing hope, redemption, and peace to all who receive Him. The lyrics invite listeners to join in the heavenly celebration and acknowledge the significance of Christ's birth as a momentous event that forever changed the course of history.


Line by Line Meaning

Hark! the herald angels sing
Listen! The angels who announce important news are singing


"Glory to the newborn King"
"Praise and honor to the recently born King"


Peace on earth and mercy mild,
May there be peace on earth and gentle mercy


God and sinners reconciled!
God has made peace with sinners


Joyful, all ye nations rise;
Rise up in joy, all nations


Join the triumph of the skies;
Come together and celebrate the victory in the heavens


With angelic host proclaim
Proclaim with the angels


"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
"The Messiah is born in Bethlehem!"


Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, adored in the highest heavens


Christ the everlasting Lord;
Christ, the eternal ruler


Late in time behold Him come,
See Him arrive at a later time


Offspring of the favored one.
Descendant of the chosen one


Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
See the divine nature hidden in human form


Hail the incarnate Deity
Greetings to the divine being in human form


Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Choosing to live among humans as a man


Jesus, our Emmanuel
Jesus, our God with us


Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Greetings to the Prince of Peace born in heaven!


Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Greetings to the Son who brings righteousness!


Light and life to all He brings,
He brings light and life to everyone


Risen with healing in His wings.
Risen with the power to heal


Mild He lays His glory by,
Gently setting aside His glory


Born that man no more may die;
Born so that humans may no longer face death


Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to lift up humanity


Born to give them second birth
Born to give them a new spiritual birth




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL BATEMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions