Virgin-born, We Bow before Thee

“Virgin-born, We Bow before Thee” is a hymn by Reginald Heber, the English bishop and hymn writer. It was published posthumously in his Hymns, &c. in 1827, in four stanzas of four lines. The hymn reflects on the birth of Jesus Christ and the blessing pronounced upon Mary, the woman chosen to be His earthly mother. Its central subject is the incarnate Christ, whose birth is celebrated through reflections on the biblical accounts of His infancy.

The hymn draws particularly on the Gospel passages that describe Mary's blessedness because she bore and cared for Jesus. In Luke 1:48, Mary says, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” Luke 11:27 records a woman praising the mother who bore and nursed Jesus, and Christ responds by emphasizing the importance of hearing and keeping God's Word. These passages provide a biblical context for remembering Mary's unique role in the birth of the Saviour while keeping attention on Christ Himself.

The hymn's language places considerable emphasis on Mary's motherhood and the honour associated with her bearing the world's Saviour. Christians may differ in how they understand the devotional language directed toward Mary, so the text is best considered in light of the full biblical witness. Scripture calls Mary blessed, but it also teaches that worship and ultimate trust belong to God. The hymn's opening declaration directs its bowing language toward the virgin-born Christ, and its references to Mary arise from her relationship to Him.

The hymn has been paired with several historic tunes, including MON DIEU, PRÊTE-MOI L'OREILLE and QUEM PASTORES LAUDAVERE. One version uses the tune MON DIEU, PRÊTE-MOI L'OREILLE, associated with Louis Bourgeois and later harmonizers. Because tune assignments vary between hymnals, the tune should be selected according to the particular hymnal or musical edition being entered. The hymn is suitable for services reflecting on the Nativity, the presentation of Christ, and the biblical account of Mary's role in the incarnation.