# While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks: lyrics with the Bible verses behind them

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks is Luke 2:8-14 put into rhyme, almost line for line: the shepherds at night, the angel, “Fear not,” good news of great joy, a Savior in David’s town, the baby in cloths in a manger, and the angels’ “Glory to God.” It adds very little.

Words: Nahum Tate, 1700. Music: “Winchester Old,” 1592, in Britain. In America often “Christmas,” arranged from Handel. The words are in the public domain.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/christmas/carols/while-shepherds-watched-their-flocks. Scripture quotations are from the Lumin Translation.

## The words, line by line

### Verse 1

- While shepherds watched their flocks by night ([Luke 2:8](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#8): “There were shepherds in that same area who were staying out in the open country, standing guard over their flock through the night.”)
- All seated on the ground Beyond the Bible: Luke does not say they were seated.
- The angel of the Lord came down ([Luke 2:9](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#9): “Then an angel of the Lord stood over them, the Lord’s glory shone all around them, and they were struck with great fear.”)
- And glory shone around ([Luke 2:9](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#9))

### Verse 2

- “Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread ([Luke 2:10](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#10): “The 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:”)
- Had seized their troubled mind ([Luke 2:9](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#9))
- “Glad tidings of great joy I bring ([Luke 2:10](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#10))
- To you and all mankind ([Luke 2:10](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#10))

### Verse 3

- To you, in David’s town, this day ([Luke 2:11](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#11): “this very day in David’s city a Savior has been born for you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.”)
- Is born of David’s line ([Luke 1:32](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/1#32): “This one will be great; he will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.”)
- A Savior, who is Christ the Lord ([Luke 2:11](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#11))
- And this shall be the sign: ([Luke 2:12](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#12): “And this is your sign: you will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”)

### Verse 4

- The heavenly babe you there shall find ([Luke 2:12](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#12))
- To human view displayed
- All meanly wrapped in swathing bands ([Luke 2:12](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#12))
- And in a manger laid” ([Luke 2:12](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#12))

### Verse 5

- Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith ([Isaiah 6:2](https://www.lumin.faith/read/isaiah/6#2): “Seraphim stood above him, each with six wings: two to cover his face, two to cover his feet, and two to fly with.”) Beyond the Bible: Luke says an angel. Seraphs are the creatures in Isaiah 6.
- Appeared a shining throng ([Luke 2:13](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#13): “All at once there was with the angel a vast crowd of heaven’s army, praising God and saying,”)
- Of angels praising God, who thus ([Luke 2:13](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#13))
- Addressed their joyful song:

### Verse 6

- “All glory be to God on high ([Luke 2:14](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#14): “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people in whom he delights!”)
- And to the earth be peace ([Luke 2:14](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#14))
- Good will henceforth from heaven to men ([Luke 2:14](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/2#14))
- Begin and never cease”

## Where it goes beyond the Bible

- Luke does not say the shepherds were seated. And he calls the messenger an angel. “Seraph” is the word for the creatures in Isaiah 6.

## The story of the carol

Nahum Tate, an Irish-born poet who was England’s Poet Laureate, published it in 1700 with the psalms he and Nicholas Brady put into verse. For most of the 1700s it was the only Christmas hymn the Church of England allowed in services, because it kept so close to Scripture.

In Britain it is sung to “Winchester Old,” a psalm tune printed in 1592. In America it is often sung to a tune arranged from Handel.