Lyrics
Verse 1
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Verse 2
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
Verse 3
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
Verse 4
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God presents God as secure refuge amid spiritual conflict. Each verse develops that confidence from a different angle: human strength proves inadequate, Christ stands as the chosen champion, evil cannot overturn divine truth, and even severe earthly loss cannot extinguish Gods kingdom. The older language gives the hymn a solemn, confessional character, while its repeated contrasts place mortal weakness beside enduring divine authority.
The opening image closely reflects the Psalms description of God as refuge and strength. Later lines identify Christ as Lord Sabaoth and portray his victory over the adversary, connecting the hymn with New Testament language about spiritual struggle and the defeat of evil. The final verse widens the focus beyond personal safety. Possessions, family ties, and mortal life may all be threatened, but Gods word remains. In that progression, courage does not arise from confidence in human resolve; it rests on Christs triumph, the Spirits presence, and a kingdom described as permanent.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 46:1 The psalm names God as refuge, strength, and present help in trouble.
- Ephesians 6:12 Paul describes the believers struggle as a spiritual conflict against powers of darkness.
- John 16:33 Jesus declares that he has overcome the world despite the trouble his followers face.