Jakob Ebert (Hymn-Writer)

Born: January 26, 1549 - Sprottau (Schlesien), Germany
Died: February 5, 1615 - Frankfurt/Oder, Germany

The church song poet Jakob Ebert was a son of a minister in Sprottau (Schlesien). In 1561 he entered the High School in Goldberg (Schlesien), which had become Valentin Trotzendorf, one of the first Evangelist schools of that time. Since 1566 he studied at the Universities of Frankfurt/Oder and Wittenberg.

In 1572 Jakob Ebert became rector of the School in Soldin. In 1574 he continued to study in Frankfurt and attained a doctorate there to the Magister. Afterwards he led the school in Schwiebus and became in 1576 rector in Grünberg (Schlesien), then at the University of Frankfurt professor of the Hebrew language and in 1593 for ethics. Ebert acquired in 1593 the theological and taught since 1594 as a professor of theology.

Jakob Ebert is well-known for his song: "Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ, wahr'r Mensch und wahrer Gott, ein starker Nothelfer du bist im Leben und im Tod". With the original melody by the church musician Bartholomäus Gesius, also working in Frankfurt/Oder, the song appeared for the first time in 1601 in Frankfurt/Oder in the collection of "Geistliche deutsche Lieder mit 4 und 5 Stimmen gesetzt durch Bartholomäus Gesius "

Source: BBKL Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2003)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2003)

Texts of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

BWV 67, BWV 116, BWV 143

Chorale Texts used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ

Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn (1591; NLGB 95; GH 145; EKG 83; EG 109; KGEL 107; attributed to, actually Kaspar Stolzhagen)

Links to other Sites

EBERT, Jakob (BBKL) [German]