Hymn Desk
Hymn Texts /

O Son of God, in Galilee

O Son of God, in Galilee is a hymn text by Timothy Dudley-Smith (1984) in 8.7.8.7 D meter. Found in CW21 765, elw 718, lbw 426, lsb 841. Sung to KINGSFOLD.

The hymn celebrates Christ's divine power over physical and spiritual affliction, reflecting the Lutheran understanding of the Gospel as Christ's redemptive work addressing human suffering and brokenness. It emphasizes the incarnational reality of God's healing presence in Jesus, central to Lutheran Christology and the doctrine of the atonement.

History & Background

Written by Timothy Dudley-Smith in 1984, this contemporary hymn directly addresses the Gospel account of Jesus healing the deaf and mute man in Mark 7. The hymn has become widely adopted in Lutheran, Anglican, and ecumenical hymnals as a theologically rich meditation on Christ's healing ministry.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Christian Worship: Hymnal — 765
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 718
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 426
  • Lutheran Service Book — 841
  • Lutheran Worship — 400

Bulletin Note

Written by hymnologist Timothy Dudley-Smith in 1984, this hymn uses Galilee's healing miracles as a lens for encountering Christ's incarnational mercy today—the Word made flesh who restores what sin has broken.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel dynamic: our spiritual deafness and muteness expose our helplessness, while Christ's healing word in Galilee proclaims the free gift of restoration to all who come in faith.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From Christ's invitation to rest (addressing spiritual weariness) through acceptance of that rest, then to Christ's offer of living water (addressing spiritual thirst) through drinking and living in him—a movement from passive reception to active transformation

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

  • Trinity 12 (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

  • Lent 4 (2×)
  • Proper 15 (1×)
  • Proper 18 (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.

Themes

Healing and wholeness Divine compassion Christological authority Restoration in Christ Deaf and dumb healed

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