Lyrics
Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed
Az ya'al shir beshevach gdulatcha Adir shimcha, nisgav ata
Ya'al shiri el kes tifartecha
Nisa varam kadosh ata
How great, how great
Great and marvelous is Your Name How great, how great
Great and greatly to be praised
When Messiah shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I will bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, "my God how great thou art!"
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee How great Thou Art, How great thou art
How great, how great
Great and marvelous is Your Name How great, how great
Great and greatly to be praised
Az ya'al shir beshevach gdulatcha Adir shimcha, nisgav ata
Ya'al shiri el kes tifartecha
Nisa varam Kadosh ata
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
How Great brings English hymn language and Hebrew praise together in a sustained declaration of God’s majesty. The opening looks at stars, thunder, and the created world as signs of divine power. Its Hebrew lines continue that praise by exalting God’s great and holy name, while the recurring refrain describes that name as marvelous and worthy of praise.
The lyric then turns from creation to the anticipated coming of the Messiah. Awe becomes humble adoration, joy, and the soul’s confession of God’s greatness. This progression closely reflects biblical songs of praise that connect God’s works with the honor due to his name. Psalm 145:3 is especially relevant because it calls the Lord great and greatly to be praised, wording repeated directly in the chorus. Revelation 15:3 also parallels the description of God’s works as great and marvelous. Across both languages, the song remains centered on worship, holiness, and reverent wonder.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 145:3 The psalm calls the Lord great and greatly to be praised, matching the refrain.
- Revelation 15:3 The passage praises God’s works as great and marvelous.