What Child is This?

The answer is in this favorite Christmas
In his beautiful Christmas carol, William Chatterton Dix asks a question people down through the centuries have asked, "What child is this?"

Even today people wonder about this baby who was born in a manger in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. Dix provides some answers in this well-loved Christmas song.

The setting
Dix wrote the lyrics for the song in 1865 during a time when Christmas was not a large, commercial, materialistic celebration. Some religious people remembered the day and celebrated it in a quiet, solemn way. Others didn't celebrate the day at all.

The hymn's meaning
Dix was moved to write about witnesses at the manger scene who knew that this was no ordinary birth yet didn't really fully understand its significance. The writer described an infant who sleeps on his mother's lap, is guarded by shepherds, greeted by angels with sweet songs and worshiped by kings.

Dix then answers his initial question by declaring that the baby is "Christ the King," who brings salvation to all people. He concluded that for this reason, we should sing about Christ, worship him and be filled with joy! Jesus indeed gives us cause for celebration on this, His birthday, Christmas day!


Info Cloud
whom/who 關係代名詞, 表示誰
What Child is This?
歌詞中一段 This is Christ the King whom shepherds guard.
whom 作及物動詞的受格, guard為及物動詞
Whom did you meet this morning? 你今早遇見誰?
(meet為及物動詞) 正式用法仍使用whom


Grammar Gym
While shepherds watch are keeping?
watch: here means the duty or period of time of guarding something
- Hank is a security guard at a museum, and during his watch, he enjoys walking around the exhibits.
- The soldiers claimed that during their watch, they saw a mysterious aircraft fly over them.


Language Lab
materialistic adj. 物質主義的
- The girl became superficial and materialistic after she became famous.
superficial adj. 膚淺的
- After several years, Sam found his pursuit of materialistic goals meaningless.

solemn adj. 莊重的, 嚴肅的(n不發音)
- The boss was very solemn when he talked about the company's financial problems.
- Her bright jacket wasn't appropriate for the solemn occasion.

occasion n. 場面, 場合
- How are people moved?

worship v. 崇拜, 敬仰
- The worship leader of the church is also a famous entertainer.
worshipped/worshipping
- The aboriginals worshipped ravens in the old days.

salvation n. 救世, 救恩, 救贖, 救助
- The worship song is about Jesus's salvation.
- The dress I'm making is beyond salvation; I need to start over.
beyond salvation 無法補救