Bach composed the cantata in his first annual cycle in Leipzig for the second Sunday after Easter, called Misericordias Domini The prescribed readings for that Sunday were from the First Epistle of Peter, Christ as a model (1 Peter 2:21–25), and from the Gospel of John, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11–16). The unknown poet begins with Psalms 80:2 and ends with Cornelius Becker's hymn "Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt", a paraphrase of Psalm 23 (1598). The poet refers in his work to more Bible context, such as Lamentations 3:23–25 and 1 Corinthians 10:13 for the first recitative, reflecting that God as the Good Shepherd will take care. In the second recitative, he concludes: "Only gather, o good Shepherd, us poor and erring ones; ah, let our journey soon reach an end and lead us into your sheepfold!" The last aria hopes "for faith's reward after a gentle sleep of death" (John 10:11–16, des Glaubens Lohn nach einem sanften Todesschlafe), combining the Baroque ideas of pastoral peace and longing for death.

Librettist Psalm LXXX: 1 (No.1) Anonymous (Nos.2-5) Cornelius Becker (1561-1604) (No.6)
Date of composition 1724 in Leipzig, Germany
Premiered 1724, April 23rd in Leipzig, Germany
First published 1830 (choral parts) 1876 (score) (BGA)
Dedicated to 2nd Sunday after Easter (Misericordias Domini)
Type Sacred Cantata
Tonality G Major
Catalogue BWV 104
Instruments 2x Voice
Chorus/Choir
Orchestra
Links
Autotranslations beta Jean-Sébastien Bach: Du Hirte Israel, höre en sol majeur, BWV 104
Johann Sebastian Bach: Du Hirte Israel, höre in sol maggiore, BWV 104
Johann Sebastian Bach: Du Hirte Israel, höre G-dur, BWV 104