德語的Hymne大概被狹義化了。查etymology of hymn得到的答案比較貼近真義，

Hymn, "religious song," c. 1000, from Old French ymne and Old English ymen, both from Late Latin hymnus "song of praise," from Greek hymnos "festive song or ode in praise of gods or heroes" (also sometimes of mournful songs).
宗教的出現早於國家的誕生。這一解釋的可信度較高。