Grace Thompson
How Great Thou Art is a popular Christian hymn that has become a staple at funeral services. Originally written in Swedish by Carl Boberg in 1885, the hymn was later translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine. The song's uplifting yet reverent lyrics reflect on the beauty of nature and the anticipation of Christ's second coming, offering comfort and hope in the face of grief and loss. With its ability to evoke a sense of awe and gratitude for God's creations, How Great Thou Art has resonated with people of various faiths and has been ranked among the greatest hymns of all time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Original Language | Swedish |
| Title Translation | O Great God |
| Author of Original Hymn | Carl Boberg |
| Author of English Version | Stuart K. Hine |
| Year of English Version | 1949 |
| Refrain | Then sings my soul, my Saviour God; to thee, How great thou art |
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What You'll Learn
'How Great Thou Art' is a translation of a Swedish hymn
"How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn that was originally written in Swedish. The original Swedish hymn, entitled "O Store Gud", was written in 1885 by Carl Boberg (1859–1940). Boberg, a journalist, evangelist, and member of the Swedish parliament, wrote more than 60 poems and hymns, but "O Store Gud" is by far his most well-known work.
The English version of the hymn, "How Great Thou Art", is a loose translation by the English missionary Stuart K. Hine and was published in 1949. Hine's translation includes two additional verses that he copyrighted in 1953 as a translation of the Russian version. The fourth stanza of Hine's English version was inspired by the testimony of a refugee and his anticipation of the second coming of Christ.
The hymn was popularized by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during Billy Graham's crusades in the 1950s. It has since become one of the most beloved Christian songs in English and is often used in funeral services. The words are uplifting and reverent, making it a popular choice for those seeking comfort and hope in their grief.
In addition to Hine's translation, there have been other attempts to translate the original Swedish hymn into English. For example, in 1914, the Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant of America published four verses of "O store Gud!" in their hymnal, with the English translation "O Mighty God" by E. Gustav Johnson. Johnson's translation was used in the first three Covenant hymnals in English, but it was later replaced by Hine's more popular version.
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The hymn was written by Stuart K. Hine in 1949
"How Great Thou Art" is a popular hymn often used in funeral services. The hymn was originally written in Swedish by Carl Boberg in 1885 and was titled "O Store Gud" ("O Great God"). The English version that is widely recognised today was written by British missionary Stuart K. Hine and published in 1949.
Hine's English translation of the hymn contains four verses. The fourth and final verse was inspired by the story of a refugee he met while serving as a missionary to Polish refugees in Somerset, Britain. The refugee had been separated from his wife, who had become a Christian, and he longed to share his newfound faith with her in heaven. These words inspired Hine to write the final verse:
> "When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
> And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
> Then shall I bow in humble adoration,
> And there proclaim, my God how great Thou art!"
Hine's version of "How Great Thou Art" quickly spread in popularity across Britain, Africa, India, and America. It has since become one of the most beloved Christian songs in English and was voted the British public's favourite hymn by BBC's Songs of Praise. The uplifting yet reverent nature of its lyrics makes it a popular choice for funeral services.
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The hymn was inspired by displaced refugees
The hymn "How Great Thou Art" was inspired by displaced refugees and their stories. The English missionary Stuart K. Hine wrote the hymn's English version, which was published in 1949. Hine first heard the Russian translation of a German song inspired by Carl Boberg's poem "O Store Gud" ("O Great God") while on a mission trip to Ukraine in 1931. The final verse of the hymn, which Hine added after World War II, was inspired by the stories of displaced refugees he encountered after the war.
Hine and his family were forced to leave Ukraine due to the Holodomor famine and the outbreak of World War II, settling in Somerset, Britain. There, he continued his missionary work with Polish refugees. The fourth verse of "How Great Thou Art" reflects the hope and anticipation of the refugees, who were separated from their families and longed to be reunited with them in heaven:
> "When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation to take me home, what joy shall fill my heart."
The testimony of one refugee, who shared with Hine his story of being separated from his wife and his desire to share their faith together, deeply inspired this verse. The refugee's anticipation of the second coming of Christ and his belief that they would be reunited in heaven resonated with Hine and became the basis for the final verse.
The hymn's popularity spread beyond Britain, reaching Africa, India, and America. It has become one of the most well-known and beloved Christian hymns, with its uplifting and reverent words making it a popular choice for funeral services. The story behind the hymn's creation adds a layer of beauty and meaning to its powerful message.
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The hymn was popularised by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows
"How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn based on the original Swedish hymn, "O Store Gud", written in 1885 by Carl Boberg. The English version of the hymn is a translation by British missionary Stuart K. Hine in 1949. The hymn was popularised by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during Billy Graham's crusades.
The English version of "How Great Thou Art" and its title are a loose translation of the original Swedish hymn. The hymn was first published in 1886, with the inspiration for the poem coming to Boberg as he walked home from church in Sweden, listening to the church bells. The first three English Covenant hymnals used Johnson's translation, with The Covenant Hymnal (1973) including all nine verses of Boberg's original poem. However, Johnson's translation was replaced in 1996 as it used more archaic language.
Hine's version of the hymn gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Hine was influenced by the teachings of British Baptist evangelist Charles Spurgeon. He first heard the Russian translation of the German version of the song while on an evangelical mission to the Carpathian Mountains. The fourth stanza of Hine's English version was inspired by a refugee he met who had been converted to Christianity and was hoping to be reunited with his Christian wife in heaven.
"How Great Thou Art" has since become one of the most popular Christian hymns in English. It was voted the British public's favourite hymn by BBC's Songs of Praise and was ranked second on a list of the favourite hymns of all time by Christianity Today magazine in 2001. The uplifting yet reverent nature of the lyrics makes it a popular choice for funeral services.
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The hymn was ranked second on a list of favourite hymns of all time in 2001
The hymn "How Great Thou Art" has become one of the most popular Christian songs in English, despite being originally written in Swedish. The English version was translated and copyrighted by British missionary Stuart K. Hine in 1949.
The hymn was popularised by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during Billy Graham's crusades. It was voted the British public's favourite hymn by BBC's Songs of Praise.
In 2001, "How Great Thou Art" was ranked second on a list of favourite hymns of all time in a survey by Christianity Today magazine. It was ranked after "Amazing Grace". The song also ranked second in a nationwide poll by Songs of Praise in 2019.
The popularity of the hymn can be attributed to its uplifting and reverent lyrics. The fourth and final verse of the hymn were inspired by the story of a refugee couple who were separated at the end of World War II. The husband shared with Hine his deep desire to find his wife so they could share their newfound Christian faith together. He believed that he would only be reunited with his wife in heaven and this inspired the lyrics: "When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation to take me home, what joy shall fill my heart".
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Frequently asked questions
The hymn was originally written in Swedish by Carl Boberg in 1885. The English version was translated by British missionary Stuart K. Hine in 1949.
The lyrics to the hymn are as follows:
"O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed."
Chorus: "Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art."
"When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur and see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze."
The hymn's uplifting yet reverent lyrics make it a popular choice for funeral services. The song expresses awe and wonder at God's creation and power, providing comfort and hope during times of grief.
There are several variations of the hymn, including additional verses written by Hine. The Covenant Hymnal includes nine verses of Boberg's original poem. Johnson's translation was used in early Covenant hymnals, but Hine's version gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
