JESUS CHRIST >> Birth
SDAH 141
What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary`s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: What Child Is This?
Originally part of William Chatterton Dix’s longer Christmas poem “The Manger Throne,” this hymn was written around 1865 after a personal illness led him to a deeper reflection on the nativity story in Matthew 2.
Set to the haunting melody GREENSLEEVES—a well-known English tune from the 16th century—the carol pairs poetic wonder with timeless music.
As we sing, we join in the question asked through the centuries: Who is this child lying in a manger? And the answer echoes still: “This, this is Christ the King.”
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898; see SDAH 123) wrote this about 1865. It is taken from “The Manger Throne,” a longer poem he wrote for the Christmas season, after reading Matthew 2:1-12. Other hymns by Dix in SDAH are No. 123, “As With Gladness Men of Old,” and No. 167, “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!”
GREENSLEEVES appeared in New Christmas Carols, 1642, with a carol for New Year’s, “The old year now away is fled.” Much earlier, the registers of the Stationers’ Company, London, September 1580, recorded a license to one Richard Jones, “A New Northern Dittye of the Lady Greene Sleeves.” The same day a license was issued to Edward White for “A Ballad, Being the Ladie Greene Sleeves Answere to Donkyn His Frende.” Twelve days later another version, with sacred words, was recorded: “Greene Sleeves moralized to the Scripture, declaring the manifold benefits and blessings of God bestowed on sinful man.” The fact that it appeared in several versions over so short a time period indicates a popularity dating much earlier. William Shakespeare made mention of the GREENSLEEVES tune in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
The arrangement used in SDAH is from the Episcopal Hymnal 1940.
Stanza:
1 – Luke 2:5, 7, 13
2 – John 1:14
3 – Matthew 2:12
Text
1
What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary`s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Refrain
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.
2
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
3
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him,
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Luke 2:5, 7, 13 (b) John 1:14 (c) Matt 2:12
Author
William C. Dix (1837-1898)
Year Published
c. 1865
Hymn Tune
GREENSLEEVES
Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.Ref.
Tune Source
English Folk Melody
Theme
BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
