This hymn was originally composed in German no later than 1635 by Georg Weissel who lived near Konigsberg which was part of Prussia. That city is now called Kalingrad. It was not until 1855 that it made its way into English when it was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth. The hymn appears in tune books in either 4.5 or 6 stanzas.

The following verses are thought to have been in the mind of the writer:

Psa.24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in...The LORD of hosts.

1 Tim.6:14-16 The appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in his times he shall shew. who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see.

John 4:42 Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Eph.2:4-7 God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us. even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ...and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Matt.21:4-11 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass...and a very great multitude spread their garments in the way: others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus...of Nazareth.

Psa.144:15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Rev.3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

2 Cor.6:16 What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

1 Pet.2:5 Lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Pet.5:4 When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Tune: Migdol, Truro

NAC