Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
Holy God, we praise thy name
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name is a hymn text by Ignaz Franz (1771) in 8.7.8.7.8.7 meter. Translated by Clarence Alphonsus Walworth. Found in ch95 67, elw 380, gather4 662, h82 366. Sung to GROSSER GOTT.
This hymn embodies Lutheran confessional faith by directing praise to the triune God while affirming the communion of saints across heaven and earth. It connects personal piety with corporate worship and ecumenical catholicity.
History & Background
Originally composed in German as 'Grosser Gott, wir loben dich' by Ignaz Franz in 1771, based on the Te Deum Laudamus. Clarence Walworth translated it into English in 1858, making it accessible to English-speaking Protestants.
Hymnal Appearances
- Chalice Hymnal — 67
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 380
- Gather 4th Edition — 662
- The Hymnal 1982 — 366
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 535
- Lutheran Service Book — 940
- Lutheran Worship — 171
- Trinity Hymnal — 103
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 250
- United Methodist Hymnal — 79
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Ignaz Franz in 1771, this German hymn bridges Catholic and Protestant tradition, affirming Lutheran confessional faith while celebrating the ecumenical communion of all saints who praise God's triune nature across heaven and earth.
Preaching Connection
This hymn deepens any proclamation of Christ's lordship and the communion of saints by moving believers from hearing the Gospel to embodying corporate doxology—the fitting human response to God's overwhelming grace.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Third Article (Concerning Sanctification) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From creation's scope (God's majesty and dominion) through the communion of saints (apostolic witness) to Trinitarian doxology (eternal glory)
Background Research
'Großer Gott, wir loben dich', a German paraphrase of the Te Deum by the Catholic priest Ignaz Franz (1771), first printed in the Katholisches Gesangbuch issued under Empress Maria Theresa (Vienna, c. 1774-76). Neglected by Protestants in the Enlightenment as a 'spiritual folksong'; fully accepted only in the 20th century. English by Clarence A. Walworth (1858), which spread it across America with German emigration. Dark chapter: a 1939 German military hymnal added a verse praising Hitler. Source: Wikipedia 'Holy God, We Praise Thy Name'.
In the Church Year
Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Proper 24
Suggested in the one-year series
- Holy Trinity (1×)
- St. James The Elder (1×)
- Sts. Simon and Jude (1×)
- Trinity 20 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 24 (3×)
- Holy Trinity (3×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
A metrical Te Deum. Its four stanzas follow the ancient hymn's first part: God's universal reign (st. 1), the angels' 'Holy, holy, holy' (st. 2), the apostles, prophets, martyrs, and church praising (st. 3), and the Trinity confessed as mystery (st. 4). It is a hymn of pure adoration.
Central theme: The whole creation, heaven, and church praising the holy, triune God
Structure
Following the Te Deum: God (1); angels (2); saints and church (3); Trinity (4).
Law & Gospel Shape
Doxology.
Confessional Connections
Te Deum (one of the ecumenical hymns honored in the Lutheran Confessions); Athanasian Creed on Trinity in unity.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Holy Trinity; thanksgiving occasions; All Saints; Morning Prayer (in place of the Te Deum).
Historical Notes
The German text appeared in a Catholic hymnal in Vienna (1774). Walworth (1820-1900) was an Episcopalian who became a Catholic priest.
About the Tune
GROSSER GOTT — from the Katholisches Gesangbuch (Vienna, c. 1774).
Scripture References
Ps 145:13 Isa 6:3 Rev 4:8 Eph 2:20 Rev 7:9-14 Matt 28:19 Deut 6:4
Stanza by Stanza
Holy God, we praise your name and bow before you; all on earth acknowledge your scepter and all in heaven adore you; your realm is infinite and your reign everlasting.
'We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee' (Te Deum). God's reign is universal and eternal (Ps 145:13; Dan 4:3). Bowing expresses submission and worship.
- Scripture
- Ps 145:13, Dan 4:3, Phil 2:10, Ps 95:6
- Imagery & language
- Scepter; domain; reign.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology.
- Connection to previous
- Opening praise.
The angels' heavenly hymn rises; cherubim and seraphim fill heaven with unceasing praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord.
'To thee all angels cry aloud… To thee cherubim and seraphim continually do cry: Holy, holy, holy' (Te Deum; Isa 6:3; Rev 4:8). Earthly worship joins heavenly worship.
- Scripture
- Isa 6:3, Rev 4:8, Ps 148:2
- Imagery & language
- Angel choirs; chorus.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology.
- Connection to previous
- Heaven's praise.
Apostles, prophets, and white-robed martyrs join in hallowing God's name, and from morning to night the song goes on through the church.
'The glorious company of the apostles… the goodly fellowship of the prophets… the noble army of martyrs… the holy Church throughout all the world' (Te Deum). 'White-robed martyrs' (Rev 7:9-14). The church's praise never stops because somewhere on earth it is always morning (Mal 1:11).
- Scripture
- Eph 2:20, Rev 7:9-14, Mal 1:11, Heb 12:1
- Imagery & language
- Apostolic train; white robes; sun's course.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology.
- Connection to previous
- The church's praise.
Holy Father, Son, and Spirit, three in name but one in essence, undivided God: we kneel in adoration and acknowledge the mystery.
The Te Deum's 'the Father of an infinite majesty, thine honorable, true and only Son, also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.' 'Though in essence only one, / Undivided God' — the Athanasian Creed: 'we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance.' 'While we own the mystery' — the Trinity is confessed, not comprehended.
- Scripture
- Matt 28:19, Deut 6:4, 2 Cor 13:14, 1 Tim 3:16
- Imagery & language
- Kneeling; mystery.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology.
- Connection to previous
- Trinitarian conclusion.
Themes
Doxology and praise The church triumphant Angelic worship Trinitarian confession