Christmas carol · 1823
The First Noel
The words, with the Bible verse behind each line
The First Noel joins two Gospel stories into one: Luke’s shepherds in the fields and Matthew’s magi following a star. In the Bible the shepherds see angels, not a star, and the magi come later to a house. The carol also says three wise men and a cold winter night, and neither is in the text.
- 13 of 22 lines draw on a verse
- 7 passages
- 4 lines go beyond the Bible
The wordsBeyond the BibleIts story
The words, line by line
Luke 2:14 the verse a line draws on. Tap it to read the verse.Beyond where the line goes past the Bible.
Verse 1
- The first Noel the angel did sayLuke 2:10The angel told them, “Do not be afraid, for look, I am proclaiming to you good news of great joy that will belong to all the people:
- Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they layLuke 2:8There were shepherds in that same area who were staying out in the open country, standing guard over their flock through the night.
- In fields where they lay keeping their sheepLuke 2:8
- On a cold winter’s night that was so deepBeyond Luke gives no season.
Refrain
- Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
- Born is the King of IsraelJohn 1:49Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are Israel’s King!”
Verse 2
- They looked up and saw a starBeyond In Luke the shepherds see angels, not a star. The star is in Matthew, for the magi.
- Shining in the east beyond them farMatthew 2:2and asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? For we saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
- And to the earth it gave great light
- And so it continued both day and night
Verse 3
- And by the light of that same star
- Three wise men came from country farMatthew 2:1Once Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the time of King Herod, magi from the east made their way to JerusalemBeyond Matthew does not say how many.
- To seek for a king was their intentMatthew 2:2
- And to follow the star wherever it wentMatthew 2:9When they had heard the king out, they set off, and there was the star they had seen as it rose, leading them on until it came and halted over the place where the child was.
Verse 4
- This star drew nigh to the northwestBeyond Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem.
- O’er Bethlehem it took its restMatthew 2:9
- And there it did both stop and stay
- Right over the place where Jesus layMatthew 2:9
Verse 5
- Then entered in those wise men threeMatthew 2:11They went into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling down, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and brought him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
- Full reverently upon their kneeMatthew 2:11
- And offered there in his presence
- Their gold and myrrh and frankincenseMatthew 2:11
Words: Traditional English, printed 1823 and 1833. Music: Traditional English, arranged by John Stainer, 1871. In the public domain. 5 of its 6 or more verses. Verses are from the Lumin Translation.
Where it goes beyond the Bible
- In Luke, the shepherds see an angel and the glory of the Lord. They are never said to see a star.
- Matthew does not say how many magi came. Three likely comes from the three gifts.
- Luke gives no season. A cold winter night is the carol’s picture.
- Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem, not northwest. Matthew says the star led the magi there.
The story of the carol
No one knows who wrote The First Noel. It was probably sung in Cornwall, in the west of England, long before it was printed in Davies Gilbert’s “Some Ancient Christmas Carols” in 1823 and in William Sandys’s collection in 1833.
“Noel” comes from the French word for Christmas, from the Latin for “birthday.” The tune most people know was arranged by John Stainer in 1871.
- Words
- Traditional English, printed 1823 and 1833
- Music
- Traditional English, arranged by John Stainer, 1871
Questions
Is The First Noel in the Bible?
The First Noel joins two Gospel stories into one: Luke’s shepherds in the fields and Matthew’s magi following a star. In the Bible the shepherds see angels, not a star, and the magi come later to a house. The carol also says three wise men and a cold winter night, and neither is in the text.
Who wrote The First Noel?
Words: Traditional English, printed 1823 and 1833. Music: Traditional English, arranged by John Stainer, 1871.
What does The First Noel add to the Bible?
In Luke, the shepherds see an angel and the glory of the Lord. They are never said to see a star. Matthew does not say how many magi came. Three likely comes from the three gifts. Luke gives no season. A cold winter night is the carol’s picture. Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem, not northwest. Matthew says the star led the magi there.