The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - All Glory Laud and Honor Lyrics
Lyrics
All glory, laud, and honor
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel
and David's royal Son,
now in the Lord's name coming,
the King and Blessed One.
The company of angels
is praising you on high;
and we with all creation
in chorus make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present.
To you before your passion
they sang their hymns of praise;
to you, now high exalted,
our melody we raise.
As you received their praises,
accept the prayers we bring,
for you delight in goodness,
O good and gracious King!
Psalter Hymnal, (Gray)
HYMN STORY
This hymn text was written by St. Theodulph of Orleans in 820 while he was imprisoned in Angers, France, for conspiring against the King, with whom he had fallen out of favor. The text acts as a retelling of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The medieval church actually re-enacted this story on Palm Sunday using a standard liturgy that featured this hymn. The priests and inhabitants of a city would process from the fields to the gate of the city, following a living representation of Jesus seated on a donkey. When they reached the city gates, a choir of children would sing the hymn, then in Latin: Gloria, laus et honor, and the refrain was taken up by the crowd. At this point the gates were opened and the crowd made its way through the streets to the cathedral. Though we might not have any city gates to proceed through today, this hymn still acts as a royal hymn of praise and proclamation. Today we praise the “Redeemer, King” because we know just what kind of King He was and is – an everlasting King who reigns not just in Jerusalem, but over the entire earth. What more could we do but praise Him with glory, laud, and honor.
Video
All Honor - Ron Kenoly (Live)
Meaning & Inspiration
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's rendition of "All Glory Laud and Honor" breathes vibrant life into a hymn steeped in centuries of Christian tradition, offering a powerful modern declaration of praise. While specific release information for their particular recording of this classic is less critical than its enduring spiritual impact, the choir is renowned for their ability to infuse venerable texts with contemporary gospel fervor, making timeless truths accessible and profoundly moving for new generations. This powerful arrangement carries forward a rich narrative, drawing from its origins to connect believers across time in a unified expression of reverence.
The hymn itself boasts a remarkable origin story, penned in 820 by St. Theodulph of Orleans during his imprisonment in Angers, France, under suspicion of conspiracy. Far from a lament, his text is a profound retelling of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as described in the Gospels. This historical context reveals a deep faith that transcends circumstance, transforming personal hardship into an anthem of universal worship. The medieval church recognized its power, incorporating it into Palm Sunday liturgies where communities would re-enact the scene: priests and congregants processing with a representation of Jesus on a donkey to city gates, where a children’s choir would sing the Latin original, "Gloria, laus et honor," before the gates opened to welcome the procession. This rich historical tapestry enhances the song’s meaning, reminding us that we participate in an unbroken lineage of faith and adoration.
The lyrical journey begins by directly addressing Christ as "Redeemer, King," establishing His divine authority and saving grace. It immediately transports us to that first Palm Sunday, recalling how the "lips of children made sweet hosannas ring," a detail found in Matthew 21:15-16, where Jesus defends the children's praise against the indignant chief priests and scribes, quoting Psalm 8:2, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." This imagery underscores the purity and spontaneous nature of true worship, accessible even to the youngest among us. The hymn then proclaims Jesus as "the King of Israel and David's royal Son," affirming His messianic lineage and fulfillment of prophecy (Matthew 1:1, Luke 1:32-33). His coming "in the Lord’s name" echoes Psalm 118:26, a blessing traditionally associated with the Messiah’s arrival.
The song broadens its scope in the second stanza, inviting a cosmic chorus into the worship. It speaks of "the company of angels praising you on high," drawing from scriptural visions of heavenly worship like Revelation 5:11-13, where countless angels join in exalting the Lamb. This heavenly scene merges seamlessly with earthly praise, as "we with all creation in chorus make reply," referencing Psalms like 148, which calls upon everything that has breath to praise the Lord. The remembrance of "the people of the Hebrews with palms before you went" solidifies the historical connection to John 12:13, where the crowds took palm branches and went out to meet Jesus, crying "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" This bridge connects ancient acts of worship with our present-day "praise and prayer and anthems" that we too "present" before Him.
The final stanza eloquently transitions from past to present, noting that praises were sung "before your passion," foreshadowing the cross, yet affirming that now, to Christ "high exalted," our melody is raised. This acknowledges His resurrection and ascension, essential tenets of Christian faith (Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9-11). The prayerful request, "As you received their praises, accept the prayers we bring," expresses confidence in God’s unchanging character and willingness to hear His people. It concludes by recognizing that Jesus "delight[s] in goodness, O good and gracious King," echoing verses such as Psalm 147:11, which states that "the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love," and affirming His inherent benevolence as described throughout Scripture (e.g., Psalm 100:5). The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's delivery of these lyrics imbues them with a sense of urgent, joyous devotion, inviting every individual to join in this timeless, universal acclamation of Christ’s sovereignty and redemptive work, cementing its place as an enduring anthem of faith.