Crown Him with Many Crowns -- Hymn Lyrics

1 Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.


2 Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o'er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing
who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die.


3 Crown him the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above,
in beauty glorified;
no angels in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends their burning eye
at mysteries so bright.


4 Crown him the Lord of years,
the potentate of time,
creator of the rolling spheres,
ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
for thou hast died for me;
thy praise shall never, never fail
throughout eternity.

"Crown Him with Many Crowns" is a classic Christian hymn celebrating the sovereignty and majesty of Jesus Christ. Written in 1851 by Matthew Bridges, it is one of the most beloved hymns in Christian worship. Here’s a closer look:

Origin and Authorship:

• Matthew Bridges, an Anglican who converted to Catholicism, originally wrote six stanzas for the hymn.
• Later, Godfrey Thring, an Anglican clergyman, added six additional stanzas to create a version suitable for Protestant use, as some of Bridges' verses reflected Catholic theology.
• The hymn is often a combination of stanzas from both authors.

Themes:

The hymn is a declaration of Jesus Christ as King and Lord over all creation. Each verse emphasizes a different aspect of His kingship, such as:

• His reign over creation.
• His triumph over death and sin.
• His eternal glory in heaven.

Structure and Lyrics:

The hymn is rich in imagery drawn from Scripture. Some references include:

• "Crown Him the Lord of love" – alluding to Christ's sacrificial love (John 15:13).
• "Crown Him the Lord of life" – celebrating His resurrection (John 11:25-26).
• "Crown Him the Lord of peace" – referencing His role as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Tune:

• The hymn is traditionally set to the tune DIADEMATA, composed by George Job Elvey in 1868. The triumphant melody complements the regal theme of the lyrics.

Usage:

• It is often sung during Easter, Ascension Sunday, or other celebrations of Christ's kingship.
• The hymn inspires awe and worship, reminding believers of the eternal reign of Christ.

Verse 1: Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne

• Key Biblical References:
  • Revelation 19:12 (KJV): "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns."
  • Revelation 5:6-13 (KJV): This passage depicts the Lamb (Jesus) on the throne, worshipped by the heavenly hosts, ascribing Him power, riches, and glory.

The imagery of "many crowns" reflects Jesus' ultimate authority over all creation and His victory as the sacrificial Lamb.

---

Verse 2: Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave

• Key Biblical References:
  • John 11:25 (KJV): "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
  • 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (KJV): "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin... but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

This verse emphasizes Christ's resurrection and His triumph over sin and death, offering eternal life to believers.

---

Verse 3: Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways

• Key Biblical References:
  • Isaiah 9:6 (KJV): "For unto us a child is born... and his name shall be called... The Prince of Peace."
  • Psalm 45:6 (KJV): "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter."

The "scepter" symbolizes Christ's just and peaceful rule over the earth, fulfilling the prophecies of the Messiah as the bringer of peace.

---

Verse 4: Crown Him the Lord of love; behold His hands and side

• Key Biblical References:
  • John 20:27 (KJV): "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side."
  • Romans 5:8 (KJV): "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

This verse highlights Christ's sacrificial love, demonstrated through His crucifixion and the wounds He bore for humanity.

---

Verse 5: Crown Him the Lord of heaven, one with the Father known

• Key Biblical References:
  • John 17:5 (KJV): "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
  • Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV): "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..."

This verse glorifies Jesus' eternal reign and unity with the Father, a central theme of His divine kingship.

---

Verse 6: Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time

• Key Biblical References:
  • 1 Timothy 6:15-16 (KJV): "Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords."
  • Revelation 1:8 (KJV): "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord."

This verse acknowledges Christ as the ruler over all ages, from eternity past to eternity future, affirming His timeless sovereignty.

Godfrey Thring (b. Alford, Somersetshire, England, 1823; d. Shamley Green, Guilford, Surrey, England, 1903) was born in the parsonage of Alford, where his father was rector. Educated at Balliol College, Oxford, England, he was ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1847. After serving in several other parishes, Thring re­turned to Alford and Hornblotten in 1858 to succeed his father as rector, a position he retained until his own retirement in 1893. He was also associated with Wells Cathedral (1867-1893). After 1861 Thring wrote many hymns and published several hymnals, including Hymns Congregational (1866), Hymns and Sacred Lyrics (1874), and the respect­ed A Church of England Hymn Book Adapted to the Daily Services of the Church Throughout the Year (1880), which was enlarged as The Church of England Hymn Book (1882).