O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Emmanuel means God-with-us. The juxtaposition of God-with-us and imagery like “king” and “lawgiver” is a good one. This is not some lofty palace-dwelling ruler who has no idea how common people live, but rather, God who dwells with us, lives among us.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14