Background
Keymann was born in Pankratz, Habsburg Bohemia in 1607, the son of Zacharias Keimann, a Lutheran pastor.
Keymann was born in Pankratz, Habsburg Bohemia in 1607, the son of Zacharias Keimann, a Lutheran pastor.
From 1627 to 1634, he studied at the University of Wittenberg.
He is known for writing the chorale "Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht" in 1658, which served as the base for Bach"s chorale cantata Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht, BWV 124, and other compositions. After graduation he worked at the gymnasium of Zittau, first as associate director, then as rector in 1638. He died of a stroke in 1662.
Hymns 464.
Donald G. Bloesch in his book The struggle of prayer (1980) describes it as a "moving hymn".