Lyrics
Verse 1
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Verse 2
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
Chorus
Bind the wounds
And break the chains
Tear the veil
And curse the grave
Emmanuel
It's in Your name
Interlude
(O come, O come)
(O come, O come)
Verse 3
O come, thou Key of David, come
And open wide eternal home
From depths of hell Your people save
Make straight the path to Heaven's gate
Chorus
Bind the wounds
And break the chains
Tear the veil
And curse the grave
Emmanuel
It's in Your name
Interlude
(O come, O come)
(O come, O come)
Chorus
Bind the wounds
And break the chains
Tear the veil
And curse the grave
Son of God
Make a way
Interlude
(O come, O come)
(O come, O come)
(O come, O come)
(O come, O come)
Verse 4
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind
Bid thou our sad division cease
And be thyself our King of Peace
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
This rendition joins the longing of the historic Advent hymn with a chorus focused on Christ’s saving work. Images of captivity, exile, darkness, and blocked passage create a world waiting for Emmanuel. Against that need, the lyric asks the Son of God to bind wounds, break chains, defeat the grave, and open the way home. The closing appeal for divided hearts to become one under the King of Peace expands the prayer from personal rescue to reconciliation among nations.
The title Emmanuel recalls Isaiah’s promised sign and Matthew’s description of Jesus as ‘God with us.’ The Key of David language comes from Isaiah 22 and appears again in Revelation 3, where Christ is portrayed as the one whose opening cannot be shut. References to the torn veil and the conquered grave also point toward the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection. These biblical images make the song fitting for Advent while carrying the expectation forward to redemption, peace, and eternal hope.
Related Scripture
- Matthew 1:23 Matthew identifies Jesus as Emmanuel, meaning God with us.
- Revelation 3:7 Christ is described with the Key of David, opening what no one can shut.
- Matthew 27:50-51 The torn temple veil follows Jesus’ death in the Gospel account.