Zaccheus (There was a man in Jericho called Zaccheus)

There was a man in Jericho called Zaccheus. Now the Hebrews, they were tall, but Zaccheus, he was small, Yet the Lord loved Zaccheus, better than them all. 1 The Lord went walking one day through Jericho town, and the people began to gather from miles around. But Zaccheus, he couldn’t see, so he climbed a sycamore tree, and the Lord looked up and said, “Zaccheus, come down.” 2 The Lord said, “Zaccheus, I am dining with you today. Zaccheus, I come to your house, come lead the way.” Then Zaccheus, he gave a cheer, but the people began to sneer: “This man is a sinner, does the Lord seek lodging here?” 3 Now Zaccheus was small of stature, but he could show, that a man who is stout of heart can grow and grow. “If I have cheated young or old, I restore the goods fourfold.” And salvation came that day to his whole household.

This hymn about Jesus eating with Zacchaeus the tax-collector was written by Medical Mission Sister Miriam Therese Winter (b 1938), based on Luke 19: 1-8.

It was originally published in her 1965 collection "Joy is like the Rain". Sheet music for the Joy is Like the Rain collection has been out of print for a long time, but copies are occasionally available on Amazon.

Downloads

Examples

Original recording:

Solo singer with guitar accompaniment:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on the author's website.

The song starts with a four-line chorus, and this is repeated after each of the three verses. A rough outline is:

Chorus:
There was a man in Jericho called Zaccheus.
There was a man in Jericho called Zaccheus.
Now the Hebrews, they were tall, but Zaccheus, he was small,
Yet the Lord loved Zaccheus, better than them all.

1 The Lord went walking one day through Jericho town ...

2 The Lord said, “Zaccheus, I am dining with you today ...

3 Now Zaccheus was small of stature, but he could show ...