Da Jesus, an des Kreuzes Stamm. [The Seven Words.] First appeared in the Hannover Gesang-Buch, 1646, No. 45, in 10 stanzas of 5 lines, repeated in Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica, 1656, and many later collections. It was evidently written to supersede the older hymn noted under Boschenstein. Frequently, as by Hunsen in his Versuch, 1833, No. 168, and the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, edition 1863, No. 220, it is ascribed to J. Zwick. But the version of the Seven Words on the Cross given by Wackernagel, iii. p. 612, as by Zwick, and first published 1545, is in 7 stanzas of 8 lines, beginning, "Im Ersten wort der hoptgrund stat," and is entirely different. Translated as:—
1. Seven times our blessed Saviour spoke. A good and full translation by Miss Cox in her Sacred Hymns from the German, 1841, p. 31 (Hymns from the German, p. 57, slightly altered). In 1848, stanzas i.-viii. were included, unaltered, as No. 135 in the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book. In full, but slightly altered, as No. 401 in the 1857 edition of Mercer's Church Psalm and Hymn Book. Omitting stanza ix., it was included in Rorison's Hymns and Anthems, 1851, No. 70; and again in Darling's Hymns for the Church of England, 1874, altered as, Seven words our blest Redeemer spoke."
2. When on the cross the Saviour hung. A full and good translation by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 53, repeated as No. 74 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880.
3. My soul, thy great Redeemer see. A translation of stanzas i., ix., x., by Miss Borthwick, as No. 70 in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864.
Other translations are:—
(1) "When Christ hung on the cursed tree," by J. C. Jacobi, 1122, p. 17 (1732, p. 32), repeated, altered, as No. 162 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (2) "Seven words from Jesus' lips did fall," in Dr. J. Guthrie's Sacred Lyrics, 1869, p. 75. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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