Copyright by James Carlson
So, what does the word Noel mean? Christmas, birthday, born of God? In fact, all of these would be right. The truth is that the word Noel is not originally English, Biblical, Greek or Hebrew. Let’s take a little journey in a study of a word we often sing, which has so much meaning, while most of us (self-included) don’t know what is means. We need to worship God in Spirit and Truth; so let’s see what we’re actually singing.
The history of the word ‘noel’ typically traces back to the French word ‘nael’, which is used to mean Christmas (Christ Mass; a Catholic celebration of Jesus’ Birth). This word was later transferred to English as ‘nowel’ or ‘noel’. It has been used to describe the Christmas season, Christmas carols, and even people’s names.
Tracing ‘nael’ back to Latin we find the word ‘natalis’, which means ‘born’. Looking at the Latin vulgate we find ‘natalis’ in Matthew 14:6 and Mark 6:21 referring to Herod’s birthday, not Jesus’ birthday. None-the-less, the words ‘natalis dies’ refers to a ‘birth day’ or birthday and it is applied to the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
So, the trail is not taking us anywhere significant yet as it appears this word NOEL refers to a religious ceremony surrounding the Birth of Christ. The Catholic mass called Christmas is celebrated on 25 December. Jesus wasn’t born then, that is when we celebrate his birth according to western traditions. The eastern traditions of the Orthodox Church have the Christmas celebration on 6 January.
Is the word Noel in the Bible? From what I can determine, No is the answer. But from what others have commented on, the Hebrew words ‘Norad El’ or ‘Nolad Elohim’ mean ‘born of God’ and can be contracted into the term ‘No El’ or Noel. This Hebrew derivation, however, is not in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) nor is it in the Greek Bible (New Testament). However, there are references to Jesus’ birth found In the Old Testament in Hebrew:
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel [God with us].
Isaiah 9:6
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [Father of Everlasting Life], Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 11:1
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. [Jesus, the descendant of David, the tribe of Judah.]
Jeremiah 23:5
5 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
Micah 5:2
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
There are numerous passages in the New Testament showing that these prophecies have been fulfilled:
John 1:14
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Many more passages can be cited but the Son of God, prophesied about in the Hebrew Old Testament, is shown to be fulfilled in the person of Jesus in the Greek New Testament. Without trying to detail the entire Christmas story, Jesus was born the son of God (born of God, hence ‘Noel’). We celebrate his birth day on ‘Christmas Day’, hence ‘Noel’ can mean birthday or just Christmas - the celebration (mass) of Christ’s birth. On the First Noel, God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, threw a party in heaven with the angels who spoke to the shepherds in the field about His Son’s birth in Bethlehem.
Here is the original French version of the song, "The First Noel," we usually sing about the birthday of Jesus:*
The French version of and the English translation:
Aujourd'hui le Roi des Cieux au milieu de la nuit
Voulut naître chez nous de la Vierge Marie
Pour sauver le genre humain, l'arracher au péché
Ramener au Seigneur ses enfants égarés.
Refrain: Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël; Jésus est né, chantons Noël !
Today the King of Heaven in the middle of the night
Was born on Earth of the Virgin Mary
To save the human race, pull it from sin
Return the Lord's lost children to him.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel; Jesus is born, let us sing Noel!
En ces lieux durant la nuit demeuraient les bergers
Qui gardaient leurs troupeaux dans les champs de Judée
Or, un ange du Seigneur apparut dans les cieux
Et la gloire de Dieu resplendit autour d'eux.
Refrain
In these parts during the night stayed the shepherds
Who kept their flocks in Judea's fields
Now, an angel of the Lord appeared in the skies
And the glory of God glowed around them.
Refrain
L'ange dit : « Ne craignez pas ; soyez tous dans la joie
Un Sauveur vous est né, c'est le Christ, votre Roi
Près d'ici, vous trouverez dans l'étable, couché
D'un lange emmailloté, un enfant nouveau-né ».
Refrain
The angel said, "Do not fear; everyone be joyful
A Savior is born to you, it's Christ, your King
Nearby, you will find in the stable, put to bed
Wrapped up in a flannel blanket, a newborn child."
Refrain
*[Team, ThoughtCo. "The Fascinating Story and Lyrics of 'The First Noel' in French." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/aujourdhui-leroi-des-cieux-french-christmas-1368139.]
Here is the song as presented in 3 versions of Old English:
[The New English Hymnal (1986); Ralph Dunstan's gallery version in the Cornish Songbook (1929); and Reverend Charles Lewis Hutchins's version in Carols Old and Carols New (1916). < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Noel>]
Here is the song as sung today
The First Noel
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Deleted from the song are the references to the 3 Wise Men, Kings of the East, who saw the Star of Jesus’ birth in the West. They drew from the records of the magi, whom Daniel was a part of, to discipher the time and place of Jesus’ birth. They discerned that from the prophecies of the coming messiah that this star was in fulfillment of the prophecy.
However, when the Wise Men came to Bethlehem, Jesus was 2 years old. They told King Herod about their journey and the time they saw the star; and this is why Herod killed all the male babies in Bethlehem who were 2 years old or so. So, the Wise Men were not with the Shepherds that night they visited Jesus at His birth (nor was Herod Antipas as erroneously depicted in a new movie about Mary).
Celebrate the birth of our King, Jesus. He is the reason for the season. Celebrate with friends and family and with the brothers and sisters at your Church. This is a great season and day of celebration as we glorify the God who gave His Only Begotten Son for us. Jesus was born to die for our sins and now we have Peace with God through His Sacrifice. Glory to God who gave us his first-born son, Jesus, so that we too could be born again in the Spirit as children of the Father (Christians – little anointed ones). Praise God for the first Noel, the first born of God - Jesus, as we receive an inheritance through Jesus Christ our Lord to have eternal life and adoption as children of God. Praise God in the heavens and on the earth, for the God in heaven (the Father) and the God on earth (the Son) have brought peace and good will to all mankind. Glory to God forever and always…
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