Crown Him With Many Crowns
An exalted hymn celebrating Christ's universal reign.
Download PDFAn exalted hymn celebrating Christ's universal reign. Written by Matthew Bridges & Godfrey Thring (1851), set to the tune "Diademata" by George J. Elvey.
Suggested pairing scripture
Revelation 19:12
"His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns."
Read Revelation 19:12 (KJV) aloud as a call to worship before the congregation sings "Crown Him With Many Crowns." It anchors the hymn in the Word from which it flows.
Read in contextWhen to sing this
Sing as an opening processional, on Christ the King Sunday, and in services that magnify the reign of Christ.
Lyrics
Stanza 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.
Stanza 2
Crown Him the Lord of love; Behold His hands and side, Those wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified: No angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bends his burning eye At mysteries so bright.
Stanza 3
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.
Stanza 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 and glory shall not fail Throughout eternity.
History & Background
Matthew Bridges wrote the original six stanzas in 1851; Godfrey Thring added six more in 1874. George J. Elvey's tune 'Diademata' (1868) takes its name from the Greek word for crowns in Revelation 19:12.
Scripture Behind the Hymn
Revelation 19:12
"His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns."Read in context
Philippians 2:9-11
"God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name."Read in context
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the hymn mean by 'many crowns'?
It comes from Revelation 19:12, where the returning Christ wears 'many crowns' — symbols of His full and final authority over every realm.
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Where to go next
Enjoyed "Crown Him With Many Crowns"? These pages pair well with it for worship planning.
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