This cantata for the first Whitsun holiday is based on a text by Johann Christoph Wentzel (1659–1723). The yearly volume in which it appears dates to August 4, 1703, and is dedicated to, among others, Herr Joh. Kuhnau, Director of Choral Music at the City of Leipzig. It can be assumed that Kuhnau's composition originated near the time of the text, thus within his first years in office as the Leipzig St. Thomas cantor. Kuhnau follows the structure of Wentzel's poem in a Dictum and four verses with introductory sonata, although some details are varied.

In comparison to other works by Kuhnau, the scoring is fairly large with five vocal parts, trumpets, timpani, oboes, and bassoon as well as two violins and violas each. The short performing time, on the other hand, makes the cantata suitable for liturgical use, too.