Tierra bendita y divina

"Tierra bendita y divina"
The Jaffa Gate possibly inspired a line of the hymn from Cuba.
English	"Blessed and Divine Land"
Genre	Hymn
Text	by Alejandro Tabales Santiago
Language	Spanish
Melody	by Robert C. Savage
Published	1954 (1954)

"Tierra bendita y divina" (English: "Blessed and Divine Land"), also known as "Tierra de la Palestina" (English: "Land of Palestine"), is a traditional Spanish language Christian hymn derived from Cuba and composed by Robert C. Savage in 1954. It describes the land of Palestine and the details of Jesus' life, and refers to certain historical Israelite places: the Western Wall, the Mount of Beatitudes, and the Jaffa Gate.

Lyrical controversy

On the line, "Tierra bendita y divina, es la de Palestina", the Holy Land is referred to as Palestine. The origin of the name "Palestine" translates in Hebrew Pəléshseth (פלשת), which refers to the kingdom of Philistia: arch-enemy of Israel and west of the Kingdom of Judah.

Lyrics

These are the lyrics in Spanish:

The line "Y en tus hermoso olivares," refers to the Olive trees of Israel.

Spanish lyrics: Tierra bendita y divina es la de Palestina donde nació Jesús; Eres, de las naciones, cumbre bañada por la lumbre que derramó su luz. Coro Eres la historia inolvidable, Porque en tu seno se derramó La sangre, preciosa sangre, Del unigénito Hijo de Dios. Cuenta la historia del pasado que en tu seno sagrado vivió el Salvador, Y en tus hermoso olivares, habló a los millares la palabra de amor. Quedan en ti testigos mudos, que son los viejos muros de la Jerusalén; Viejas paredes ya destruidas, que si tuvieran vida, nos hablarían bien.

English translation: Blessed and divine land is that of Palestine where Jesus was born; You are the summit of all nations bathed by the fire that His light has shed Chorus You are the unforgettable story, For in thy bosom spilled The blood, the precious blood Of the only-begotten son of God. Ancient history has it That in thy sacred bosom The Saviour lived, And in your beautiful olive groves, He spoke to thousands of people The word of love. Silent witnesses are in you, Which are those old walls of Jerusalem; Old walls since destroyed, That if they were alive, Would tell us the story.

External links

• Tierra bendita y divina lyrics at Himnes Cristians