O Clavis David — O Key of David

O Clavis David is the O Antiphon sung before the Magnificat at Evening Prayer on December 20 — in 2026, Sunday, December 20. It is antiphon 4 of seven.

LatinO Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

Our translationO Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, who open and no one shuts, who shut and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner out of the prison house, who sits in darkness and the shadow of death.

A reflection

A key is authority you can hold. Isaiah gives the key of David's house to a faithful steward; Revelation gives it to Christ. The prisoner in the antiphon is not someone else — it is whoever is praying it, asking to be let out of whatever has locked them in.

Where the words come from

Every phrase of the antiphon is drawn from Scripture. These are the main sources, quoted from the World English Bible:

Isaiah 22:22 (WEB)I will lay the key of David’s house on his shoulder. He will open, and no one will shut. He will shut, and no one will open.

Isaiah 42:7 (WEB)to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.

Revelation 3:7 (WEB)To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: “He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:

In the hymn

The verse of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861) that paraphrases this antiphon:

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

How to pray it

At Evening Prayer it frames the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), said before and after it. At home, say it at the Advent wreath before dinner, then sing the matching verse of the hymn. At Mass it is the Gospel acclamation for the day.

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O Clavis David: questions

What does O Clavis David mean?

O Key of David. It is the O Antiphon for December 20: O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, who open and no one shuts, who shut and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner out of the prison house, who sits in darkness and the shadow of death.

When is O Clavis David prayed in 2026?

On Sunday, December 20, 2026, as the antiphon before the Magnificat at Evening Prayer. In 2026 this is also the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

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