WE THREE KINGS

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 1883


“We Three Kings” – History of the Hymn


Origin and Author

“We Three Kings” is a Christmas and Epiphany hymn written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. (1820–1891), an American Episcopal clergyman. He composed both the lyrics and the music in 1857, making it one of the earliest widely popular Christmas carols to have been written entirely by an American.


Purpose and First Performance

Hopkins wrote the hymn for a Christmas pageant at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, where he was the music director. The song was designed so that different singers could take individual verses, each representing one of the Magi, with a shared refrain.


Publication

The hymn was first published in 1863 in a collection titled Carols, Hymns and Songs. The tune is known as “Kings of Orient.”


Biblical Basis and Theme

The hymn is based on the story of the Magi (often called the Wise Men or Kings) from Matthew 2:1–12, who followed a star to Bethlehem to bring gifts to the Christ child.


Each verse reflects the symbolism of the gifts:


Gold – Christ’s kingship


Frankincense – Christ’s divinity


Myrrh – Christ’s suffering and death


The famous refrain, “Star of wonder, star of night,” emphasizes the Star of Bethlehem guiding the Magi.


Liturgical Use

Although commonly sung at Christmas, “We Three Kings” is especially associated with Epiphany (January 6), which commemorates the visit of the Magi.


Legacy

Today, “We Three Kings” is one of the most enduring and recognizable Christmas hymns worldwide, valued for its strong narrative structure, rich symbolism, and distinctive minor-key melody.

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