Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran appreciation for Mary's witness to God's redemptive work while maintaining proper Christological focus—God's mercy and mighty deeds are the substance of her song. The text reinforces Lutheran understanding of divine grace shown to the humble and lowly, reflecting the theology of the Magnificat as central to the Incarnation narrative.
History & Background
Timothy Dudley-Smith wrote this text in 1962 as a modern English paraphrase of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) for contemporary worship. The hymn was first published in Hymns for Church and School and has become widely adopted in Lutheran and other Protestant hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Baptist Hymnal — 99
- Chalice Hymnal — 128
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 885
- Glory to God — 120
- The Hymnal 1982 — 437
- Lutheran Service Book — 935
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 69
- New Century Hymnal — 119
- Trinity Hymnal — 172
- United Methodist Hymnal — 200
- Voices Together — 638
Bulletin Note
Written by Timothy Dudley-Smith in 1962, this modern paraphrase of the Magnificat reclaims Mary's prophetic witness while keeping Christ's redemptive work central—a gift of the ecumenical hymn renewal movement.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel reversal at the heart of redemption: God's power is revealed not in the mighty but in lifting the lowly—a grace that undoes human pride and establishes true righteousness.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From personal proclamation of God's greatness (stanzas 1-2) through cosmic reversal of power (stanza 3) to eternal transmission of God's promises (stanza 4). The hymn moves from individual response to universal Gospel proclamation.
Themes
Mary's Magnificat God's mercy and faithfulness Divine majesty and power Salvation history Humility and exaltation