Grace Thompson
How Great Thou Art is a popular Christian hymn that has been widely accepted and sung by Catholics worldwide. The hymn is considered an Athanasian masterpiece, praising the Saviour and Creator. The lyrics were inspired by a visit to a beautiful country estate on the southeast coast of Sweden, where the poet, Carl Boberg, experienced a thunderstorm followed by calm and sweet bird songs, leading him to write a nine-stanza poem in Swedish. The English version we know today was translated by Stuart K. Hine in 1949, and it has since been sung by various Catholic choirs and congregations, with several recordings available.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Hymn |
| Theme | Praise and admiration of God as Creator and Redeemer |
| Inspiration | Boberg's visit to a country estate on the southeast coast of Sweden, where he witnessed a thunderstorm followed by calm and sweet bird songs |
| Structure | Four verses, with the first two expressing wonder at God as Creator and the latter two expressing greater wonder at God as Savior |
| Refrain | "Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art!" |
| Popularity | Widely accepted throughout the world, with various recordings by choirs and musical artists |
| Duration | Different recordings range from approximately 4 minutes to 4 minutes and 19 seconds |
| Year | Various recordings, with the earliest mentioned from 2016 and the latest from 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
The hymn's Athanasian nature
The Christian hymn "How Great Thou Art" is considered a masterpiece of Athanasian theology. The hymn expresses wonder and praise for God as both Creator and Redeemer of the world, reflecting the themes found in the works of St. Athanasius, particularly his writings on the Incarnation.
The original poem, written by Carl Boberg, was inspired by a visit to a country estate on the southeast coast of Sweden. Boberg experienced a powerful thunderstorm followed by the calm brilliance of the sun and the sweet songs of birds, which filled him with awe and led him to kneel in adoration of God. This experience is captured in the hymn's lyrics, which begin with a similar sentiment:
> "O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
> Consider all the works Thy hand hath made.
> I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
> Thy power throughout the universe displayed."
The structure of the hymn, as translated into English by Stuart K. Hine in 1949, consists of four verses. The first two verses, derived from Boberg's original, focus on God as the Creator, while the latter two, composed by Hine himself, shift the emphasis to God as the Saviour. Hine's verses were influenced by his missionary work in Ukraine and his observations of Ukrainian devotional practices, including acts of public repentance.
The hymn's melody has also undergone changes over time. Initially set to music in triple time, it was later adjusted to the more familiar 4/4 version that is widely used today. These adjustments contribute to the hymn's appeal and showcase the collaborative efforts of diverse Christians united in their admiration for God.
Overall, "How Great Thou Art" exemplifies the Athanasian nature through its profound reverence for God's creative power and salvific role, expressed in a manner that has resonated with Christians across different lands and musical traditions.
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The evolution of the hymn's lyrics and melody
The Christian hymn "How Great Thou Art" has evolved significantly since its inception. The original poem, titled "O Store Gud," was written in Swedish by Carl G. Boberg in 1885 at the age of 26. Boberg drew inspiration from a visit to a country estate on the southeast coast of Sweden, where he experienced a thunderstorm followed by calm, sweet bird songs, prompting him to write a nine-stanza poem expressing his exaltation of God's greatness.
The poem was initially set to music in a triple time signature, paired with an old Swedish melody. However, within a decade, the familiar 4/4 version of the tune replaced it. The English missionary Stuart K. Hine, together with his wife, first encountered the Russian version of Boberg's poem, combined with the original Swedish melody, during their missionary work in Poland in the early 1920s. Hine was deeply moved by the poem and its message, and he began to translate and adapt it into English.
Hine's English translation and arrangement of the Swedish melody became the widely recognized hymn, "How Great Thou Art." The first three verses of Hine's translation were inspired by his experiences in the Carpathian Mountains, and the fourth verse was added later in 1948 while he was ministering to displaced persons in England. The final English version of the hymn was published in 1949 and quickly spread internationally, gaining popularity through singers like George Beverly Shea, who performed it during the Billy Graham Crusades.
Hine's translation and the melody's evolution have contributed to the hymn's enduring appeal. The lyrics vividly combine a sense of awe for nature and its Creator with the New Testament gospel of Christ's atoning death and anticipated return. The structure of the hymn, with its expressive verses and refrain, captures the singer's wonder and devotion to God as both Creator and Savior.
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The inspiration behind the hymn
The hymn "How Great Thou Art" is a powerful and beloved Christian hymn that has touched the hearts of many believers around the world. The inspiration behind this hymn can be traced back to the 1800s and is rooted in the awe-inspiring beauty of nature and the profound gratitude and praise it evokes.
The original Swedish poem, "O Store Gud," was written by Carl Boberg, a Swedish pastor and politician, in 1885. Boberg was reportedly inspired to write the poem after a memorable walk home from church one day. As he took in the beauty of the natural world around him, he was overcome by a sense of awe and gratitude for God's magnificent creation. The scenery of the countryside, with its vast skies and majestic birds in flight, stirred deep emotions within him. The poem was first published in a Swedish newspaper in 1886 and later set to music by a Swedish composer, which transformed it into a well-loved hymn in Sweden.
The hymn expresses gratitude for the beauty of nature, the wonder of God's creation, and the promise of eternal life. It captures the awe and wonder that we feel when we contemplate the vastness of the universe and our place in it. The lyrics also allude to biblical events such as the parting of the Red Sea and the promise of heaven, reminding singers and listeners of God's faithfulness and power throughout history.
The English version of the hymn that we know today was translated and adapted by Stuart K. Hine, a British missionary, in the 1940s. Hine was deeply moved by the original Swedish poem and sought to capture its essence in English. He added two original verses to the hymn, reflecting on his own missionary experiences and the universal praise of God across all nations. Hine's translation and adaptation helped spread the hymn's popularity worldwide, and it has since been translated into numerous languages, touching lives and inspiring worship across cultural boundaries.
"How Great Thou Art" has become a staple in Christian worship services and hymnals worldwide due to its powerful message and emotional melody. Its enduring popularity lies in its ability to convey the awe and gratitude that believers feel toward God and to remind us of His faithfulness and majesty, as reflected in the beauty and grandeur of His creation.
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The hymn's structure
The structure of the hymn "How Great Thou Art" has evolved over time and across different languages and cultures. The original poem, written in Swedish by Boberg, consisted of nine stanzas. The English version by Stuart K. Hine in 1949, however, has become the most widely accepted globally.
Hine's version of the hymn consists of four verses, with a clear structure that progresses from wonder at God as the Creator to even greater wonder at God as the Saviour. The first two verses of Hine's version are derived from Boberg's original poem, while the third and fourth verses are Hine's own compositions.
The third verse of Hine's hymn is particularly significant as it serves as a memorial to the millions of Christians who lost their lives during Stalin's artificial famine in Ukraine in the early 1930s. Hine, who was a missionary in Ukraine, witnessed the Ukrainian devotional practice of public repentance, which influenced his transcription for the third verse.
The fourth and final verse of Hine's hymn is a testament to the refugees of the Second World War. It was inspired by the story of an atheist man who was separated from his wife, a Christian, at the outset of the war.
The refrain, "Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art!" is repeated after each verse, emphasizing the singer's awe and devotion to God.
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The hymn's message
"How Great Thou Art" is a popular Christian hymn that expresses wonder and praise for God as both the Creator and Saviour of the world. The hymn is known for its powerful message of awe and adoration, which has resonated with Christians across diverse traditions and lands.
The hymn's lyrics were originally written as a nine-stanza poem by Boberg, inspired by a visit to a beautiful country estate on the southeast coast of Sweden. During his visit, Boberg experienced a midday thunderstorm, followed by a calm and brilliant sun, which filled him with a sense of God's mighty presence. The poem, beginning with the Swedish words "O Store Gud, nar jag den varld beskader", captures his exaltation and humble adoration of God's greatness.
Stuart K. Hine translated the poem into English in 1949, and his version has gained wide acceptance worldwide. Hine's lyrics consist of four verses, the first two derived from Boberg's poem, while the last two were composed by Hine himself. The structure of the hymn progresses from expressing wonder at God as the Creator in the first two verses to proclaiming even greater wonder at God as Saviour in the latter verses.
The message of "How Great Thou Art" is deeply Athanasian, praising the Saviour of the world and acknowledging God's power and majesty in creation. The refrain, "Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee: How great Thou art", emphasises the soul's joyful response to God's awesome works. The hymn invites the singer to contemplate God's power in the universe, as evident in the stars and thunder, and to bow in humble adoration, proclaiming God's greatness.
Overall, "How Great Thou Art" is a testament to the Christian faith, uniting believers in their admiration of God's creative power and redemptive love. The hymn's enduring popularity and ability to transcend cultural and musical boundaries showcase its powerful message and emotional appeal.
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Frequently asked questions
The song praises God as the Creator and Redeemer of the world.
The hymn was inspired by a visit to a beautiful country estate on the southeast coast of Sweden, where Carl Boberg experienced a thunderstorm followed by calm and sweet birdsong. This prompted him to write a nine-stanza poem, beginning with the Swedish words, "O Store Gud, nar jag den varld beskader", expressing his exaltation of God.
The original poem was written by Carl Boberg. Stuart K. Hine translated it into English in 1949 and composed the second two verses himself.
Yes, "How Great Thou Art" is a popular hymn among Catholics.
