Now Thank We All Our God

Now Thank We All Our God is a hymn text by Martin Rinkart; tr. Catherine Winkworth (1636) in 6.7.6.7.6.6 meter. Found in CW21 597, CW93 610, elw 840, gather4 690.

The great Lutheran doxological hymn of thanksgiving, written in the darkest of circumstances — the Thirty Years War and a devastating plague. The three stanzas give thanks to God for past blessings, ask for continued grace through life, and conclude with a Trinitarian doxology. Bach used the tune in several cantatas.

History & Background

Written by Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), a Lutheran pastor in Eilenburg, Saxony, during the Thirty Years War. Rinkart buried over 4,000 people during a plague in 1637, including his wife. Despite these circumstances he wrote this great thanksgiving hymn Nun danket alle Gott. Translated by Catherine Winkworth in 1858.

Hymnal Appearances

• Christian Worship: Hymnal — 597
• Christian Worship — 610
• Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 840
• Gather 4th Edition — 690
• Lutheran Book of Worship — 533
• Lutheran Service Book — 895
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 36

Bulletin Note

Now Thank We All Our God — Martin Rinkart, 1636

Preaching Connection

Thanksgiving in all circumstances — Rinkart's story of writing this in the Thirty Years War is itself a sermon.

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

• Thanksgiving (7×)
• Trinity 14 (5×)
• Easter 6 (2×)
• Easter 7 (1×)
• Sexagesima (1×)
• Trinity 19 (1×)
• Trinity 9 (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

• Thanksgiving (8×)
• Proper 22 (3×)
• Easter 5 (1×)
• Easter 6 (1×)
• Easter 7 (1×)
• Proper 24 (1×)

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

Germany's 'Te Deum,' written by Martin Rinckart, pastor in Eilenburg during the Thirty Years' War, when plague and famine killed thousands in his town (he reportedly conducted some 4,000 funerals in 1637, including his wife's). It was likely first a family table prayer. St. 1-2 paraphrase Sirach 50:22-24; st. 3 is a doxology on the Gloria Patri. Its gratitude is not naïve — it was written in catastrophe.

Central theme: Thanksgiving to God for lifelong gifts, prayer for his continued presence, and Trinitarian praise

Structure

Thanks for past gifts (1); prayer for future care (2); doxology (3).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel and doxology; 'ills' acknowledged (st. 2).

Confessional Connections

First Article: 'For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.' Gloria Patri in st. 3.

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Thanksgiving Day; Te Deum substitute; weddings; anniversaries; national days; post-communion.

Historical Notes

Rinckart (1586-1649); published 1636/1647. Traditionally associated with celebrations of the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and sung at countless national occasions since.

About the Tune

NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT (Johann Crüger, 1647) — broad, confident; Mendelssohn used it in his 'Lobgesang' and Bach in BWV 79 and 192.

Scripture References

Sirach 50:22-24 Ps 22:9-10 Ps 103:1-5 1 Thess 5:18 Eph 5:20

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Thanksgiving Doxology Trinity Gratitude

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "Now Thank We All Our God" ↗