The beloved hymn ‘How Great Thou Art‘ has touched countless hearts with its powerful message of God’s majesty. But the story behind this timeless song is as inspiring as its lyrics.
‘How Great Thou Art’ Hymn Story
Carl Boberg was a young Swedish lay preacher, poet, and a member of parliament in the late 1800s. He lived in a coastal town called Mönsterås. One day in 1886, he went for a walk that would change his life and touch millions of others.
Boberg was walking home from church on a sunny afternoon. The weather was pleasant, and birds were singing. No one knew that the calm day was about to change dramatically.
Suddenly, dark clouds rolled in, and a thunderstorm broke out. Lightning flashed across the sky, and thunder boomed loudly. Rain poured down, soaking the earth. This wasn’t a gentle shower—it was a full-force storm.
The storm’s power amazed Boberg. It changed the peaceful day into a display of nature’s might. The sound of thunder echoed through the hills. Boberg wasn’t frightened—he was filled with wonder at God’s power.
But the storm wasn’t the end of God’s show. As quickly as it came, the storm passed. The sun broke through the clouds, and a rainbow appeared. Later, as Boberg reached home, he heard something that moved him deeply.
In the fresh, rain-cleaned air, church bells began to ring in the distance. Their clear tones mixed with the songs of birds that had returned after the storm. This beautiful moment stirred Boberg’s heart.
That evening, inspired by the day’s events, Boberg wrote a poem. He titled it “O Store Gud,” which means ‘O Great God’ in Swedish. This poem would later become the hymn ‘How Great Thou Art.’
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 power throughout the universe displayed
Boberg’s poem traveled far beyond Sweden. It was translated into German, then Russian. It was in Poland that Reverend and Mrs. Stuart K. Hine, English missionaries, heard the Russian version of the song. Inspired, they added new lyrics and helped spread the hymn worldwide. Each version kept the heart of Boberg’s wonder at God’s creation.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Today, ‘How Great Thou Art’ is sung in churches everywhere. It reminds us to pause and marvel at God’s work—from mighty storms to gentle rainbows.
WATCH: George Beverly Shea and choir sing heavenly Rendition of ‘How Great Thou Art’ in 1957
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