Joy to the World

Stacie Marshall

Joy to the World
"Joy to the World" is a famous Christmas hymn with lyrics by Isaac Watts. As of the late 20th century, "Joy to the World" was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. This hymn is a "joyous" celebration of the sovereignty of God and the gift of Jesus. Discover the lyrics and story of this amazing hymn and find music videos below!

Joy to the World Lyrics

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,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n, 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,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, 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,
far as the curse is found,
far as, 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,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.

Source: Hymns to the Living God #106

Songwriters Isaac Watts Published by Public Domain

The Story Behind Joy to the World

The lyrics of the hymn "Joy to the World" are by English writer Isaac Watts, inspired by Psalm 98, 96:11-12 and Genesis 3:17-18. The hymn was originally printed in 1719 in Watts' collection The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. The paraphrase is Watts' theological interpretation of those scripture passages. The nations of the world are asked to rejoice because God's faithfulness to the house of Israel has delivered salvation to Earth.

Biblical Inspiration for "Joy to the World"

"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy" ~ Psalm 96:11-12

"And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field." ~ Genesis 3:17-18

"Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity." ~ Psalm 150:1-9

Our Favorite Performance of "Joy to the World"

Collection of Popular Christmas Hymns and Carols:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
The First Noel
Joy To The World
O Holy Night
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
O Come All Ye Faithful
Go Tell It On The Mountain
What Child Is This
O Little Town of Bethlehem

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A Prayer to See God as the Ultimate Counselor - Your Daily Prayer - December 2

My prayer for your heart and mine to this season, is that we would look to the fullness we have received in our relationship with God the Father. He has promised to counsel us, shepherd us, and sustain us through this time and all the temptations that come up against us.

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