Christmas Hymn Review: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

There’s a reason some Christmas hymns endure for centuries. They don’t merely entertain or evoke warm holiday feelings—they proclaim truth. Continuing my series on Christmas hymns, I now turn my attention to one of those rare gems—Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. It is a hymn that not only stands the test of time but shines brighter with each passing year.

Written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, who was, despite his rejection of the doctrines of grace, still one of the most prolific and theologically astute hymn writers in Christian history (this is not a blanket endorsement of Wesley), this masterpiece is a triumph of poetic beauty and doctrinal depth. It doesn’t just celebrate the incarnation—it preaches the gospel.

Wesley originally wrote the hymn as a poem, and like much of his work, it was grounded in rich theological reflection. The opening lines were slightly different from what we sing today—Wesley’s original read, “Hark! How all the welkin rings,” with "welkin" being an archaic term for the heavens. It was George Whitefield, a contemporary of Wesley, who revised it to the now-familiar “Hark! The herald angels sing.” Set to music more than a century later by Felix Mendelssohn, the hymn as we know it today is a powerful synthesis of theological truth and artistic brilliance.

What makes Hark! The Herald Angels Sing so remarkable is its precision. From the opening stanza to the climactic final verse, the hymn is a systematic declaration of Christ’s incarnation, His mission, and the redemptive hope He brings. There is no fluff, no sentimentality, no doctrinal compromise—just pure, unadulterated truth wrapped in glorious melody.

Consider the first verse:

“Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”

In just four lines, the hymn encapsulates the heart of the gospel. “Peace on earth” isn’t some vague holiday sentiment—it’s the peace that comes through the reconciliation of God and sinners, a peace purchased by the blood of Christ for His people. And while the world is resolved to chaos and contention, the Church has the peace of Christ, even here on earth.

The angels in Luke 2 declared this truth to the shepherds, and this song echoes their proclamation with crystal clarity.

The second verse continues:

“Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb.”

Here, Wesley weaves together the grand narrative of Scripture. The eternal Son of God, adored by the hosts of heaven, enters time and space to fulfill the promises made to His people. “Late in time” reflects the long anticipation of the Messiah, the one foretold by prophets and longed for by generations. The mention of the virgin’s womb ties directly to Isaiah 7:14, affirming the miraculous nature of Christ’s birth and His fulfillment of prophecy.

And then, the theological crescendo:

“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.”