Christmas carols hold a special place in the hearts of believers, filling the season with joy, reverence, and a deeper connection to the birth of Christ. These hymns, steeped in biblical truths, invite worshippers to reflect on the miracle of Jesus’ birth and its significance for humanity. Here, we explore the top 12 powerful religious Christmas carols, unpack their meanings, include relevant Bible verses, and provide sample lyrics for inspiration.
Religious Christmas Carols with Bible Verses
1. O Holy Night
Meaning:
This beloved carol emphasizes the holiness of the night when Christ was born. It captures the awe and reverence of witnessing the Savior’s arrival, highlighting themes of redemption and hope.
Sample Lyrics:
“O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.”
VERSE 1
O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn
CHORUS 1
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
VERSE 2
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains He shall break
For the slave is our brother
And in His Name
All oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy
In grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy Name
CHORUS 2
Christ is the Lord
O praise His Name forever
His power and glory
Evermore proclaim
His power and glory
Evermore proclaim
CHORUS 3
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night divine
Bible Verse:
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Meaning:
This carol proclaims the joyful announcement of Jesus’ birth, made by the angels. It emphasizes themes of peace, reconciliation, and the glory of the newborn King.
Sample Lyrics:
“Hark! The herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!’”
1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel. [Refrain]
3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth. [Refrain]
Bible Verse:
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:13-14)
3. Silent Night
Meaning:
This gentle hymn reflects the serene and divine atmosphere of the nativity scene. It underscores the purity of Christ’s birth and God’s plan of salvation.
Sample Lyrics:
“Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright.”
1 Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
’round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
2 Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav’nly hosts sing, “Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!”
3 Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
radiant beams from Thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!
4 Silent night! Holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing
“Alleluia” to our King:
“Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.”
Bible Verse:
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)
4. Joy to the World
Meaning:
This uplifting carol celebrates Christ’s reign and the joy His birth brings to the world. It highlights God’s sovereignty and the ultimate restoration through Jesus.
Sample Lyrics:
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King.”
1. Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry Heart prepare him room,
And Heav’n and nature sing.
2. Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns,
Let men their Songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.
Bible Verse:
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” (Psalm 98:4)
5. O Come, All Ye Faithful
Meaning:
A call for believers to come and adore Christ, this carol emphasizes worship and devotion to Jesus as the King of Angels.
Sample Lyrics:
1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels!
Refrain:
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
2 God of God, Light of Light,
lo, He abhors not the virgin’s womb;
very God, begotten not created; [Refrain]
3 Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation;
sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest![Refrain]
4 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! [Refrain]
Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #253
“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!”
Bible Verse:
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” (Psalm 95:6)
6. Angels We Have Heard on High
Meaning:
This carol echoes the angelic chorus that announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. It’s a hymn of praise and exaltation.
Sample Lyrics:
“Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains.”
1. Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavn’ly song? [Refrain]
3. Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing.
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King. [Refrain]
4. See him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise.
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise. [Refrain]
Source: Hymns and Devotions for Daily Worship #30
Bible Verse:
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” (Luke 2:8)
7. O Little Town of Bethlehem
Meaning:
This hymn reflects on the humble town of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus, emphasizing God’s choice of the lowly to accomplish great things.
Sample Lyrics:
“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!”
1 O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
2 For Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth.
3 How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive Him still,
the dear Christ enters in.
4 O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels,
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!
Bible Verse:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” (Micah 5:2)
8. What Child Is This?
Meaning:
This carol ponders the identity of the newborn Jesus, acknowledging Him as the Christ, King, and Savior.
Sample Lyrics:
“What child is this, who, laid to rest on Mary’s lap, is sleeping?”
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?
Chorus:
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.[Chorus]
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.[Chorus]
Baptist Hymnal, (2008)
Bible Verse:
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)
9. The First Noel
Meaning:
“Noel” means “Christmas,” and this carol recounts the story of the shepherds and wise men visiting the newborn King.
Sample Lyrics:
“The first Noel, the angel did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.”
1 The first Nowell 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:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
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]
95 Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Refrain]
6 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 our life hath bought. [Refrain]
Glory to God, 20139
Bible Verse:
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” (Matthew 2:10)
10. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Meaning:
A plea for the Messiah to come and ransom captive Israel, this hymn anticipates Christ’s arrival as the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Sample Lyrics:
“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.”
1 O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain
3 O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
4 O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave. Refrain
5 O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death’s abode. Refrain
6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light. Refrain
7 O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain
Psalter Hymnal (Gray)
Bible Verse:
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
11. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Meaning:
This carol highlights the angelic message of peace and goodwill to humanity.
Sample Lyrics:
“It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old.”
1 It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
2 Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.
93 And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!
4 For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.
9United Methodist Hymnal, 1989
Bible Verse:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)
12. Go Tell It on the Mountain
Meaning:
This jubilant hymn encourages believers to spread the news of Jesus’ birth.
Sample Lyrics:
“Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.”
Refrain:
Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills, and ev’rywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.
1 While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light. [Refrain]
2 The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior’s birth. [Refrain]
3 Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn. [Refrain]
Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #361
Bible Verse:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
FAQs
1. What makes a Christmas carol “religious”?
Religious Christmas carols focus on the birth of Jesus Christ and the biblical narrative surrounding His arrival, unlike secular songs that emphasize festive themes.
2. Why do carols include Bible verses?
Bible verses anchor the carols in scriptural truth, reinforcing their message and spiritual significance.
3. How can I use these carols during Christmas?
Incorporate them into church services, family gatherings, or personal devotionals to enhance worship and reflection.
4. Are these carols suitable for all ages?
Yes, they convey timeless truths in a way that’s meaningful and engaging for all generations.
5. Where can I find recordings of these carols?
You can find performances on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, or traditional hymnbooks available online and in stores.
