Back to: The Twelve Days of Christmas Carols
This carol tells a story loosely based on the Gospel accounts in Luke 2 and Matthew 2 of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, with the shepherds, the star, and the wise men. The first two lines of the final stanza call us to action – as the wise men reverently worshiped the Christ, so we should “with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord.” The last two lines recall that our Lord is the Creator and the Savior of the world.
Although the first stanza depicts the angels’ appearance to the shepherds as told in Luke 2:1-20, the majority of the verses focus on the journey of the Magi (Matt 2:1-12).
All six stanzas are needed to complete the entire event when the hymn is sung. The sixth stanza urges us to join together to sing praises to God for the marvels of His creation and for the salvation provided through Christ’s shed blood. The repetition of the joyous “noel” in the chorus is equivalent to our singing out “happy birthday” to someone.
It is interesting to observe that the “King of Israel” was first announced to “certain poor shepherds” only, but in the final stanza the phrases “let us all” and “mankind hath brought” remind us that Christ came to redeem the whole world.
The star alerted the Magi about the birth of Christ, prompting their long trek to Jerusalem. The Magi are generally believed to be astronomers or magicians from the East, perhaps from Persia, and were not ‘Kings’ as they were later termed. The confusion may stem from the fact that Magi traditionally visited kings. Living near or in Persia, the men may have had some knowledge of the Scriptures, as the prophet Daniel had also lived in the region centuries earlier and wrote many prophecies regarding the Kingdom of God. The Magi might also have read passages such as Numbers 24:17, which describes a star coming from Jacob and a King from Israel.
Thus, the refrain fits nicely with the entire theme of the carol, for the star signified to the Magi that the King of Israel was born.
Curiously, the Magi appear to have been the only ones who saw the star, or at least the only ones to understand its meaning. King Herod had to ask the Magi when the star had appeared (Matt. 2:7). Nevertheless, the Magi persevered, strongly and steadfastly believing in the truth of the heavenly sign.
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from the country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
Contrary to what is commonly believed, the wise men did not arrive on the night of Christ’s birth; rather, they found the young Jesus and His parents living in a house (2:11). This could have been nearly two years after Christ’s birth since Herod—fearful of his own position as king—attempted to eliminate the threat by killing all male children in the region of Bethlehem under the age of two (2:16).
Perhaps the star first appeared over Bethlehem when the Magi were in the East. From that distance, they would not have been able to distinguish the exact location but would certainly have known to head west. They went to the capital city of Jerusalem, a likely place to begin their search for the King of Israel. While there, it seems likely that the star disappeared for a short time (2:2), reappearing the moment the Magi began their short, six-mile journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem (2:10).
The Star Rests
After the Magi departed from the Holy City, the star went on before them to Bethlehem and stood over the location of Jesus. It seems to have led them to the very house that Jesus was in—not just the city, which they already knew from speaking with Herod (2:4-5, 8). For a normal star, it would be impossible to determine which house stood directly beneath it. The star over Christ may have been relatively near the surface of the earth (an “atmospheric” manifestation of God’s power), allowing the Magi to discern the precise location of the holy Child. The First Noel captures the image perfectly, declaring:
This star drew nigh to the north-west;
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
A Long Journey’s End
As a response to seeing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the fulfillment of their hearts’ desire and the intent of their long, dangerous trek, the Magi fall before Christ, offering Him gifts of material wealth and gifts of humble, adoring spirits. Matthew 2:11 reads, “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Then entered in those wise men three,
Fell reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in his presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the kind of Israel.
The repeated “Noel” has the character of spreading the good news – “born is the King of Israel.” A final stanza, occasionally used in hymnals, draws all humanity into the story and extends the salvation narrative to Christ’s suffering. This stanza places the birth of Jesus, and thus the entire celebration of Christmas, into the fuller context of redemption:
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven and earth of nought,
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
1 The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.
2 They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]
3 And by the light of that same star
three Wise Men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]
4 This star drew nigh to the northwest,
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest;
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]
5 Then entered in those Wise Men three,
full reverently upon the knee,
and offered there, in his presence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense. [Refrain]
Verses from Gilbert Davies
Alternate 5 Then did they know assuredly
Within that house the King did lie;
Then entered in one for to see,
And found the Babe in poverty. Chorus.
Alternate 7 Between an ox-stall and an ass
This Child truly there born was;
For want of clothing there did him lay
All in an ox-manger amongst the hay. Chorus
Alternate 8. Now let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our Heavenly Lord,
The which hath made Heaven and Earth of nought,
And by his blood Mankind hath bought. Chorus.
Alternate 9. If we in our life-time doth do well,
We shall be free from the pains of Hell,
For God hath prepared and for us all
A resting place in generall. Chorus.