Center For Church Music, Songs & Hymns

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In a world filled with false gods, "Holy, Holy, Holy" exalts the one true God. This joyful hymn celebrates God's eternal and powerful presence. And it also reminds us of our own destiny, for someday, we too will sing "around the glassy sea."

Until that day, though, we live in a world of darkness and shadows. Yet even here, we can catch glimpses of God's holiness and power. We can see the awesome creation of the Father, experience the redemption of the Son, and marvel at the way the Ho...

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In a world filled with false gods, "Holy, Holy, Holy" exalts the one true God. This joyful hymn celebrates God's eternal and powerful presence. And it also reminds us of our own destiny, for someday, we too will sing "around the glassy sea."

Until that day, though, we live in a world of darkness and shadows. Yet even here, we can catch glimpses of God's holiness and power. We can see the awesome creation of the Father, experience the redemption of the Son, and marvel at the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives. God truly is unique among the gods of our world. He's holy--in every aspect of his triune identity.

So take time to look for God's holiness. All around us, God's creation showcases his holiness. And when we truly open our eyes to it, we can't help but raise our voices with the angels in singing "Holy, Holy, Holy."

Finally, consider the words of 1 Peter 1:15: "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." For in addition to praising God, "Holy, Holy, Holy" should stir us to live holy lives. Today, as you go about your daily tasks, take notice of God's holiness. And then ask yourself this important question: "Can others see God's holiness in the way I live?"See Less

Reginald Heber wrote "Holy, Holy, Holy" while serving as vicar of Hodnet, Shropshire, England. He was the first to compile a hymnal ordering hymns around the church calendar. Wanting to celebrate a triune God, Heber wrote "Holy, Holy, Holy" for Trinity Sunday--a day that reaffirmed the doctrine of the Trinity and was observed eight Sundays after Easter. The hymn was first published in 1826.

Years later, John Dykes composed the tune Nicaea especially for Heber's "Holy, Holy, Holy."See More

Reginald Heber wrote "Holy, Holy, Holy" while serving as vicar of Hodnet, Shropshire, England. He was the first to compile a hymnal ordering hymns around the church calendar. Wanting to celebrate a triune God, Heber wrote "Holy, Holy, Holy" for Trinity Sunday--a day that reaffirmed the doctrine of the Trinity and was observed eight Sundays after Easter. The hymn was first published in 1826.

Years later, John Dykes composed the tune Nicaea especially for Heber's "Holy, Holy, Holy."

Text and tune were first published together in 1861. Since that time, this popular hymn has appeared in hundreds of hymnals and been translated into many languages.

Heber was impressed by the holiness of God. Whether in England, with the prevalence of vice, or in Calcutta, where people worshiped idols, he would often write "Only Thou art holy." Based on the words of Revelation 4:8, he used the symbolism of three repeatedly throughout his hymn: God is "holy, merciful and mighty," he's "perfect in power, in love and purity," he's worshiped by saints, cherubim, and seraphim, and he's praised "in earth and sky and sea."

Through these consistent units of three, this hymn describes and worships God in three persons. Alfred Lord Tennyson felt "Holy, Holy, Holy" was the world's greatest hymn. It truly does call us to worship our God, falling down before him with those who sing in Revelation 4:8, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."See Less