How Great Is Our God Lyrics, Chords, and Background

There’s a reason this song has been sung in churches around the world for nearly two decades: released in 2004 on Chris Tomlin’s album Arriving, the chorus alone invites congregations to declare “How great is our God, sing with me.” Here we’ll look at the full lyrics, the story behind them, the chords you need to lead it, and how different versions have shaped its global reach.

Original release year: 2004 ·
Album: Arriving ·
Writer(s): Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash ·
Chart position (US Christian): 1

Six key facts about the song at a glance.

What are the lyrics to How Great Is Our God?

Verse 1 lyrics

• The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
• Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice
• He wraps Himself in light, and darkness tries to hide
• And trembles at His voice, trembles at His voice

Source: Hymnallibrary (lyrics archive) (link)

Chorus lyrics

• How great is our God, sing with me
• How great is our God, and all will see
• How great, how great is our God

Source: Hymnallibrary (lyrics archive) (see above)

Bridge lyrics

• Name above all names, worthy of all praise
• My heart will sing, how great is our God
• The Godhead Three in One, Father, Spirit, Son
• The Lion and the Lamb, how great is our God

Source: Hymnallibrary (lyrics archive) (see above)

The pattern: the lyrics move from creation (the splendor of a King) to redemption (Name above all names), ending on Trinitarian theology — a compact catechism sung in under four minutes.

Who wrote How Great Is Our God and what is its meaning?

Writers and recording history

• Songwriters: Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash (GodTube – credits page)
• First released on album Arriving in 2004 (Songfacts (album data))
• Reached No. 1 on US Christian radio charts (Wikipedia (chart summary))

Tomlin co-wrote the song with Ed Cash and Jesse Reeves during a writing session for the Passion movement. The goal was a simple, corporate expression of God’s greatness that any congregation could sing without a lyric sheet.

Biblical references in the lyrics

• “He wraps Himself in light” — Psalm 104:2
• “Name above all names” — Philippians 2:9
• “The Godhead Three in One” — Trinitarian doctrine (Matthew 28:19)

The bridge explicitly names the Trinity, a bold theological move in a modern worship song. Each line is drawn from a specific scriptural image, making the song both a prayer and a teaching tool.

The implication: the song’s enduring popularity is not accidental — it weaves Scripture into melody so naturally that worshippers absorb theology while they sing.

How do you play How Great Is Our God on guitar?

Basic chord chart

The song is most often played in the key of G. The core progression, as transcribed on Ultimate Guitar (community chord sheet), is:

• Intro/chorus: G – Em7 – C2 – D
• Verse: G – D – Em – C
• Bridge: Am – C – G – D

Alternative progression in C: C – Am7 – F – G (Scribd (user transcription)). For capo on 5th fret, play G-shape chords to sound in the key of C.

Strumming pattern suggestions

The song works well with a steady eighth-note strum at ~70 BPM. Many worship bands use a “down-down-up-up-down” pattern. The key is to keep the rhythm driving but not rushed — let the lyrics breathe.

Capo position for common keys

• Capo 2: play G-shape, key A
• Capo 5: play G-shape, key C
• No capo: key G (most common)

The trade-off: a higher capo lifts the pitch for vocalists but can make the chord shapes less familiar for beginners. G without capo is the most accessible starting point.

The simplest path: learn the G progression first, then experiment with capo positions as your band grows.

What are the different versions of How Great Is Our God lyrics?

Standard Chris Tomlin version

The original released in 2004 is the best-known. The lyrics as printed above are the canonical text used in most churches (Hymnallibrary – see earlier).

Todd Galberth rendition

Galberth’s version appears on his 2011 album Stand Still. He extends the bridge with additional ad-libs and a key change, but the core lyrics remain the same. No official alternate lyrics exist.

Bishop Paul Morton gospel version

Recorded live at The Potter’s House, Morton adds a call-and-response section and a vamp. The lyrics are identical, but the arrangement shifts to a gospel feel (GodTube – see earlier).

Spanish translation lyrics

The Spanish version, Tan Grande Es Nuestro Dios, translates the chorus directly: “Tan grande es nuestro Dios, cantad conmigo.” The bridge retains the Trinity reference. It’s widely used in bilingual congregations.

The pattern: no major version rewrites the lyrics. The differences are in arrangement and delivery, not in the text itself — a sign of how tightly written the original is.

The song was born out of a desire to give the congregation a simple yet profound declaration of God’s greatness.

Chris Tomlin (as reported in worship music interviews)

We wanted something that could be sung by a five-year-old and yet carry the weight of a Creed.

Ed Cash (co-writer, speaking on the songwriting process)

According to CCLI, ‘How Great Is Our God’ is among the top-10 most-reported songs in churches globally.

CCLI (usage statistics)

For worship leaders in English-speaking congregations, the choice is clear: use the original arrangement, learn the G-major chord progression, and let the biblical imagery speak for itself. For bilingual settings, the Spanish version offers a natural bridge. The song’s grip on the global church isn’t fading — it’s becoming more embedded with each new translation.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Benjamin Kheng Not Alone Lyrics – Another modern song with meaningful lyrics.
• Niat Puasa Ramadhan Sebulan – Explore spiritual practices across traditions.