Lyrics
Verse 1
Wahamba nathi, oh wahamba nathi
Oh wahamba nathi, siyabonga
Wahamba nathi, oh wahamba nathi
Oh wahamba nathi, siyabonga
Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga ngonyama yezulu
Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga
Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga ngonyama yezulu
Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga
Verse 2
Wakhamba nathi, oh wakhamba nathi
Oh wakhamba nathi, Siyathokoza
Wakhamba nathi, oh wakhamba nathi
Oh wakhamba nathi, Siyathokoza
Siyathokoza Jesu, Siyathokoza kakaramba
Siyathokoza Jesu, Siyathokoza
Siyathokoza Jesu, Siyathokoza kakaramba
Siyathokoza Jesu, Siyathokoza
Verse 3 (Akan/Twi, Ghana)
Wo ne y3n nam, oh wo ne y3n nam
Oh wo ne y3n nam, y3 da wo ase
Wo ne y3n nam, oh wo ne y3n nam
Oh wo ne y3n nam, y3 da wo ase
Y3 da w’ase yesu, y3 da w’se Osoro Gyata
Y3 da w’ase yesu, y3 da w’ase
Y3 da w’ase yesu, y3 da w’se Osoro Gyata
Y3 da w’ase yesu, y3 da w’ase
Verse 4 (Tshivenda, South Africa)
Vha tshimbila na rine, oh vha tshimbila na rine
Oh vha tshimbila na rine, ria livhuwa.
Vha tshimbila na rine, oh vha tshimbila na rine
Oh vha tshimbila na rine, ria livhuwa
Ria livhuwa Yesu, ria livhuwa Khosi ya Mahosi
ria livhuwa Yesu, ria livhuwa
Ria livhuwa Yesu, ria livhuwa Khosi ya Mahosi
ria livhuwa Yesu, ria livhuwa
Chorus
Siyabonga Jesu, siyabonga Ngonyama Yezulu
Siyabonga Jesu, siyabonga
Siyabonga Jesu, siyabonga Ngonyama Yezulu
Siyabonga Jesu, siyabonga
Verse 5
Wa tsamaya le rona, oh wa tsamaya le rona
Oh wa tsamaya le rona, re a boka
Wa tsamaya le rona, oh wa tsamaya le rona
Oh wa tsamaya le rona, re a boka
Wa tsamaya le rona, oh wa tsamaya le rona
Oh wa tsamaya le rona, re a boka
Wa tsamaya le rona, oh wa tsamaya le rona
Oh wa tsamaya le rona, re a boka
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Siyabonga Jesu” centers on gratitude for the presence and companionship of Jesus. Its recurring phrases thank Jesus for walking with his people and honor him as the Lion of Heaven and King of Kings. By carrying the same confession through several African languages, the song presents thanksgiving as a shared act of worship rather than a private response. The repetition gives the lyric a communal character suited to congregational praise.
The words closely align with biblical descriptions of God remaining near to his people. Matthew 28:20 records Jesus’ promise to be with his disciples always, while Revelation 5:5 names Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Those passages illuminate the song’s two central images without requiring claims beyond the lyric itself. Its simple movement from companionship to gratitude keeps attention on who Jesus is and on the thankful response his presence inspires.
Related Scripture
- Matthew 28:20 Jesus promises to remain with his disciples always.
- Revelation 5:5 Christ is identified as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.