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Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG: 146
Author: Martin Luther (1524-1541)
Chorale Melody: Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam | Composer: Anon / Johann Walter (?)

 

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

1

BWV 7

Mvt. 1

1724

-

-

-

-

A177:1

Chorus (Chorale) [S, A, T, B]

 

2~

BWV 7

Mvt. 2

1724

-

-

-

-

A177:2

Aria [B]

 

3~

BWV 7

Mvt. 3

1724

-

-

-

-

A177:3

Recitative [T]

 

4~

BWV 7

Mvt. 4

1724

-

-

-

-

A177:4

Aria [T]

 

5~

BWV 7

Mvt. 5

1724

-

-

-

-

A177:5

Recitative [B]

 

6~

BWV 7

Mvt. 6

1724

-

-

-

-

A177:6

Aria [A]

 

7

BWV 7

Mvt. 7

1724

-

44

-

-

A177:7

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

-

BWV 280

-

?

65

43

66

-

F65.1

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 
 
 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam
Nach seines Vaters Willen,
Von Sanct Johann's die Taufe nahm,
Sein Werk und Amt zu 'rfüllen.
Da wollt' er stiften uns ein Bad,
Zu waschen uns von Sünden,
Ersäufen auch den bittern Tod
Durch sein selbst Blut und Wunden,
Es galt ein neues Leben.

Christ our Lord came to the Jordan
in accordance with his father’s will,
he received baptism from Saint John,
to fulfil his work and ministry.
By this he wanted to establish for us a bath
to wash us from our sins,
to drown also bitter death
through his own blood and wounds.
This meant a new life.

2

So hört und merket alle wohl,
Was Gott heißt selbst die Taufe,
Und was ein Christen glauben soll,
Zu meiden Ketzer Haufen:
Gott spricht und will, das Wasser sei
Doch nicht allein schlecht Wasser,
Sein heiligs Wort ist auch dabei
Mit reichem Geist ohn Massen,
Der ist allhie der Täufer.

Therefore hear and mark well
what God himself calls baptism
and what a Christian should believe
to avoid a load of heresies:
God says and means, there is water
but not just water alone,
his holy word is also present
with the rich, measureless Spirit –
He is here the one who baptises.

3

Solchs hat er uns beweiset klar,
Mit Bildern und mit Worten,
Des Vaters Stimm man offenbar
Daselbst am Jordan hörte.
Er sprach: das ist mein lieber Sohn,
An dem ich hab Gefallen,
Den will ich euch befohlen han,
Daß ihr ihn höret alle
Und folget seinen Lehren.

This he has shown clearly to us
with pictures and with words,
the Father’s voice was openly
heard in that very place at the Jordan.
He said: this is my dear son
in whom I have delight,
concerning him I give orders to you
that you should all listen to him
and follow his teaching.

4

Auch Gottes Sohn hie selber steht
In seiner zarten Menschheit,
Der heilig Geist hernieder fährt
In Taubenbild verkleidet;
Daß wir nicht sollen zweifeln dran,
Wenn wir getaufet werden,
All' drei Person getaufet han,
Damit bei uns auf Erden
Zu wohnen sich ergeben.

Here also God’s son himself stands
in his gentle humanity,
the holy spirit comes down here
clothed in the image of the dove;
so that we should have no doubt
when we are baptised
all three persons have baptised,
thereby with us on earth
they give themselves to dwell.

5

Sein Jünger heißt der Herre Christ:
Geht hin all Welt zu lehren,
Daß sie verlor'n in Sünden ist,
Sich soll zur Busse kehren;
Wer glaubet und sich taufen läßt,
Soll dadurch selig werden,
Ein neugeborner Mensch er heißt,
Der nicht mehr konne sterben,
Das Himmelreich soll erben.

Christ the Lord calls his disciples:
go and teach all the world,
so that those who are lost in sin
may turn to repentance;
who believes and is baptised
shall thereby become blessed,
he is called a newborn man
who can die no more
but shall inherit the kingdom of heaven

6

Wer nicht glaubt dieser großen Gnad,
Der bleibt in seinen Sünden,
Und ist verdammt zum ewgen Tod
Tief in der Höllen Grunde,
Nichts hilst sein eigen Heiligkeit,
All sein Thun ist verloren.
Die Erbsünd machts zur Nichtigkeit,
Darin er ist geboren,
Vermag ihm selbst nichts helfen.

whoever does not believe in this great mercy
remains in his sins,
and is condemned to everlasting death
deep in the depths of hell.
His own holiness is of no use,
all that he does is lost,
it is nullified by original sin
in which he is born,
he is unable to help himself at all.

7

Das Aug' allein das Wasser seiht,
Wie Menschen Wasser gießen,
Der Glaub im Geist die Kraft versteht
Des Blutes Jesu Christi,
Und ist für ihm ein rothe Fluth
Von Christi Blut gefärbet,
Die allen Schaden heilen tut
Von Adam her geerbet,
Auch von uns selbst begangen.

The eye sees only water
when the water is poured,
faith in the Spirit understands the power
of the blood of Jesus Christ
and for him it is a red stream
coloured with Christ’s blood
that heals all the injuries
we have inherited from Adam
and also those we have brought upon ourselves

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (May 2006)
Contributed by Francis Browne (May 2006)

Cantata BWV 7: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
German Text | German-2 | Translations: Chinese-1 | Dutch-2 | Dutch-6 | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-1 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-2 | Portuguese-2 | Russian-1 | Spanish-3


Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales

Texts & English Translations of Chorales: Sorted by Title

Texts & Translations: Main Page | Cantatas BWV 1-50 | Cantatas BWV 51-100 | Cantatas BWV 101-150 | Cantatas BWV 151-200 | Cantatas BWV 201-224 | Other Vocal BWV 225-249 | Chorales BWV 250-438 | Geistliche Lieder BWV 439-507 | AMN BWV 508-524 | Other Vocal 1081-1164 | BWV Anh | Chorale Texts | Emblemata | Sources | Poets & Composers
Discussions: Texts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4




 

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Last update: Friday, June 02, 2017 03:58