for KING & COUNTRY + NeedToBreathe - O Come, O Come Emmanuel Lyrics
Lyrics
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
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
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
Rejoice! (Rejoice!), Rejoice! (Rejoice!) Emmanuel (Emmanuel)
Shall come to thee, O Israel
Video
for KING + COUNTRY - O Come, O Come Emmanuel | LIVE from Phoenix
Meaning & Inspiration
The collaborative rendition of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" by for KING & COUNTRY and NEEDTOBREATHE, featured on the 2017 album *Christmas LIVE from Phoenix*, offers a compelling modern interpretation of an ancient Advent hymn. This powerful recording transcends mere seasonal fare, delving deep into the profound longing for salvation that has echoed through centuries of faith. The song's story, rooted in the *O Antiphons* of the early church, expresses a desperate plea for the Messiah's arrival during a time when Israel was facing oppression and exile. Each stanza acts as a distinct invocation, calling upon different Messianic titles – Emmanuel, the Dayspring, and the Key of David – reflecting deep theological understanding and a yearning for divine intervention. The repetition of "Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel" serves as a vibrant, anticipatory refrain, emphasizing the unwavering hope in God's promised deliverance.
Analyzing the lyrical content through a biblical lens reveals a rich tapestry of prophecy and theological significance. The opening plea, "O come, O come, Emmanuel / And ransom captive Israel / That mourns in lonely exile here / Until the Son of God appears," directly echoes the prophetic announcements of Isaiah, who foretold the birth of a son named Immanuel, meaning "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14). This stanza speaks to the human condition of being held captive by sin and its consequences, a theme consistently addressed throughout Scripture, as Paul later articulated in Romans 8:22-23, where creation itself groans in anticipation of redemption. The call for Emmanuel to "ransom captive Israel" is a clear allusion to Christ's redemptive work on the cross, fulfilling the Old Testament concept of atonement and liberation, as seen in Hosea 13:14: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death."
The subsequent invocation, "O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer / Our spirits by Thine advent here / Disperse the gloomy clouds of night / And death's dark shadows put to flight," draws from the imagery of Zechariah 3:8 and 9, which speaks of God's servant, the Branch, a "new shoot" who will bring forth a new day. This "Dayspring" is Jesus, the light that pierces the darkness of sin and mortality, a concept central to John's Gospel: "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4-5). The prayer to disperse "gloomy clouds of night" and "death's dark shadows" directly corresponds to the hope of resurrection and eternal life offered through Christ, as promised in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57: "Death is swallowed up in victory. 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?'"
Finally, the invocation of "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" references Isaiah 22:22, where God promises to place the "key of the house of David" upon Eliakim's shoulder, signifying authority and access. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as this ultimate key-holder, who opens the door to God's presence and our heavenly home. Revelation 3:7 states, "The words of the holy one, the true one, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one will open." This plea is for Christ to grant us access to the Father, securing our path to eternal life and away from the "path to misery," which is the consequence of separation from God. The artists' delivery, while modern in its sonic landscape, retains the devotional weight of the original hymn, making this rendition a potent reminder of the enduring promise of hope and salvation found in the Advent season and the person of Jesus Christ.