Why is it called 'A Paraphrase' and not just 'The Lord's Prayer'?

Field is clear about his intentions—he's not trying to reproduce scripture verbatim, but rather to express it in his own poetic style. The title signals to the reader that this is an interpretation, a creative act of devotion rather than a direct quote.

What does Field change from the original prayer?

The changes focus more on structure and rhythm than on theology. He rearranges some phrases to improve the meter, consistently uses "debts" where the King James Bible switches between "debts" and "debtors," and adds "restore" in the line about temptation, which reflects his own interpretation.

What is the rhyme scheme?

The poem employs rhyming couplets, where each pair of lines ends with words that rhyme (like name/same, heaven/forgiven, and again/amen). This structure lends the poem a hymn-like, singable feel that enhances its devotional intent.

What does 'restore Thou us again' mean?

This is Field's paraphrase of "deliver us from evil." The term "restore" suggests that humans have a pure, original state, and that when we confront temptation or evil, God's role is to guide us back to our true selves — not merely to save us, but to rejuvenate us.

Is this poem religious or is it more of a literary exercise?

It comes across as genuinely religious. Field was writing in a culture where the Lord's Prayer was a fundamental part of everyday life, and the poem lacks the ironic distance you might anticipate from just a literary exercise. He approaches the source material with genuine respect and warmth.

Who would have read this poem when it was first published?

Field's audience mainly consisted of middle-class American families in the late 19th century. His poems were published in newspapers and popular anthologies, meaning this poem would have reached readers who already knew the Lord's Prayer by heart. The paraphrase would have resonated like a beloved song played in a slightly different key.

What makes this a poem and not just a prose restatement of the prayer?

The rhyme, meter, and intentional line breaks all contribute to its identity as a poem. Field also makes thoughtful word choices—like "restore" and the strategic use of dashes—that add depth beyond mere paraphrase, demonstrating how a poet carefully crafts language with purpose.

The Annotated Edition

A PARAPHRASE by Eugene Field

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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Poet: Eugene Field
Themes: faith, forgiveness, hope

The PoemFull text

A PARAPHRASE

Eugene Field

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, in Heaven the same; Give us this day our daily bread, and may our debts to heaven-- As we our earthly debts forgive--by Thee be all forgiven; When tempted or by evil vexed, restore Thou us again, And Thine be the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever; amen.

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Eugene Field reimagines the Lord's Prayer, a deeply known text in Christianity, transforming it into a single flowing poem that retains its original meaning while adopting a more natural verse structure. This rendition feels like a heartfelt conversation with God instead of a rigid liturgical recitation. It serves as a reminder that even the most sacred words can evoke warmth and intimacy.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Editor's note
Field opens with the address taken directly from Matthew 6:9, but the semicolon and rhythmic flow indicate that this is a poem rather than a scripture reading. Referring to God as "Our Father" creates an intimate atmosphere—it's a familial relationship, not a subject asking a king for favor.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, in Heaven the same;
Editor's note
The original prayer breaks down "on earth as it is in heaven" into a subordinate clause. Field tweaks the wording to "in Heaven the same," creating a rhythmic finish and subtly highlighting that heaven represents the ideal for earth to strive toward.
Give us this day our daily bread, and may our debts to heaven--
Editor's note
Here, Field starts to weave together two petitions in one breath: the plea for physical sustenance and the plea for forgiveness. The dash introduces a purposeful pause, keeping the reader in suspense until the terms of forgiveness are clearly stated.
As we our earthly debts forgive--by Thee be all forgiven;
Editor's note
This is the moral hinge of the entire prayer. God's forgiveness is directly linked to our willingness to forgive others. Field's parenthetical restructuring—"As we our earthly debts forgive" nestled between two dashes—frames our obligation to forgive as a subtle yet unavoidable part of a contract.
When tempted or by evil vexed, restore Thou us again,
Editor's note
Field condenses "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" into a single line that feels like a sigh of relief. The word "restore" is a subtle yet significant choice—it suggests we were once complete and that God's purpose is to bring us back to that original wholeness.
And Thine be the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever; amen.
Editor's note
The doxology wraps up the poem with a return to grandeur after the intimate, personal petitions that preceded it. The semicolon before "amen" adds a quiet weight to that final word — it's more than just a sign-off; it serves as a seal of sincerity for everything that came before.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is both respectful and friendly — it feels like someone who truly believes in what they’re saying instead of just going through the motions. There’s a sense of warmth and a calm confidence in the connection between the speaker and God. Everything feels natural, not rigid or formal; Field maintains a level of sophistication in the language to honor the source while keeping it personal and relatable.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Daily bread: On the surface, this refers to actual food, but it represents all our basic human needs — the essentials we rely on that we can't control. Asking for it "this day" emphasizes the importance of the present moment instead of worrying about future plans.
Debts: Field uses "debts" to refer to both our sins against God and our grievances against others, highlighting a clear connection between the two. This word choice presents forgiveness as a form of moral accounting — a ledger that needs to balance in both directions.
Kingdom, Power, and Glory: The closing triad symbolizes divine completeness — three attributes that together portray a God who rules, acts, and shines. Concluding the poem with these words elevates the reader from personal petition to a sense of awe.
Amen: "Amen" goes beyond just being a ritual close; it symbolizes sincerity and commitment. It acts as the speaker's signature on the prayer, confirming that each word carries meaning.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field was an American poet and journalist, recognized for his sentimental poetry, especially those touching on themes of childhood and family life. He spent most of his career at the Chicago Morning News and became one of the most popular American poets of the late 19th century. This poem was created during a time when the Lord's Prayer played a significant role in American public and family life, being recited in schools, around family meals, and in churches of various denominations. Field's choice to rephrase it as a poem was rooted in affection rather than irreverence, mirroring a predominantly Protestant American culture that viewed the Bible as both a sacred text and a piece of living literature. The poem fits well with his other devotional and sentimental pieces, which approached faith as a personal experience in the home rather than a topic for theological debate.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

It’s a verse paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer, which Jesus teaches his disciples in Matthew 6:9–13 of the Bible. Field retains the meaning and order of the original nearly perfectly, but transforms it into rhyming lines with a steady meter.

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A PARAPHRASE by Eugene Field

A PARAPHRASE

What this poem is about

Recurring themes

Stanza by stanza, with notes

How this poem feels

Symbols & metaphors

Historical context

Questions readers ask

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