In this monumental opening chorus, we are immediately confronted with two powerful images from Baroque mysticism: the Bridegroom and the Lamb.
1. The Bridegroom: This refers to the spiritual union between Jesus and the believers. Jesus is seen as the Bridegroom who gives his life out of pure love for humanity (his bride).
2. The Lamb: This is the image of the innocent sacrificial animal. Just as a lamb was sacrificed in the Old Testament to take away sins, Jesus is presented here as the ultimate sacrifice taking 'our guilt' upon Himself.
The questions from the second choir ('Whom?', 'How?', 'What?') are meant to shake us awake as listeners and make us active witnesses to the passion that begins here.
Opening Chorus
Kommt, ihr Töchter
Chorus
•Chorus I & II
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No. 1part_01
Come, ye daughters, help me lament,
Behold - Whom? - the Bridegroom,
Behold him - How? - like a lamb!
Behold - What? - behold his patience,
Behold - Where? - on our guilt;
Behold him, out of love and grace,
Bearing the wood for the cross himself.
German
English
Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen,
Sehet – Wen? – den Bräutigam,
Seht ihn – Wie? – als wie ein Lamm!
Sehet – Was? – seht die Geduld,
Seht – Wohin? – auf unsere Schuld;
Sehet ihn aus Lieb und Huld
Holz zum Kreuze selber tragen.
Come, ye daughters, help me lament,
Behold - Whom? - the Bridegroom,
Behold him - How? - like a lamb!
Behold - What? - behold his patience,
Behold - Where? - on our guilt;
Behold him, out of love and grace,
Bearing the wood for the cross himself.
Modern adaptation
Come closer and share in the grief. Look at the pure innocence sacrificing itself for the mistakes of others.