Awesome God θεὸς θαυμαστός
The Greek text is still in the process of being fully matched to meter, along with addding optional lines, etc. Many resources I hope to link to are not yet listed. If you have any comments, suggestions, send me a note at louis <at> letsreadgreek <dot> com.
Here is the popular chorus (which has become a song in itself) from the Song titled "Our God is an Awesome God" by Rich Mullin. Many worship services sing this chorus ad infinitum. Mullin himself has a number of variations on the chorus. A number of popular artists sing this song, including Michael W. Smith. The Greek title is taken from the English version. The Septuagint has a different phrase θεὸς μέγας καὶ κραταιός, Δευτερονομιον 7:21; I've included it as an optional version of line 1/4.
English Text and Links
- Copyright Information: Words and music: Rich Mullins 1988 Edward Grant, Inc. (ASCAP) Adm. by Reunion Music Group
- Video
- Audio
- Midi
- Lyrics
| Popular Chorus Text: |
Our God is an awesome God He reigns from Heaven above In wisdom , power and love our God is an awesome God. |
Scriptural References
"Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God." Deuteronomy 7:21
οὐ τρωθήσῃ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, ὅτι κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐν σοί, θεὸς μέγας καὶ κραταιός, Δευτερονομιον 7:21
Septuaginta. 1996, c1979 (Dt 7:21). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.
Koine Greek Adaptation
- Koine Text (Some songs have multiple versions, the best one will be chosen as the model)
θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐστὶν θαυμαστός, |
- Living Koine Audio forthcoming
- Progress: I'm not yet satisfied with line 2 (the accents of ἄρχω and βασιλεύω cause some trouble). Line 3 also needs some work and variation.
- Rating of Koine Text: (0=incomplete | 3=rough translation | 8=meter matched | 10=elegant)
- Text with Sheet Music (melody only) forthcoming
- Parallel Koine Greek / English forthcoming
Chreia adaptations
Use in Greek Pedagogy
This song is good for teaching
- the forms of εἰμί in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd singular.
- the different ways to say 'is/am' without the verb εἰμί
- a number of simple common adjectives in the nominative case
- The dative case with or without ἐν used instrumentally.
I've given four versions in addition to the one above, with all the line variations listed together below. The first and last lines should be the same or nearly identical. I suppose one of the versions should become the base model. Word replacements are listed below. I would like to include music notes above the verse so people know how to sing the song. The initial θεὸς ἡμῶν is quick. Some people thought I should get rid of it, so I created the optional lines. The point is there is no 'correct' version - just a model from which to play with when singing. Warning: this song could get stuck in your head!
How to use the Chreia. It is my plan to help my students this coming year by using modern worship songs to internalize vocabulary, stock phrases, and forms.
| Chreia Versions |
Version 1 1 θεὸς ἡμῶν θαυμαστὸς θεός, Version 2 Version 3 Version 4
|
| Line Variations |
Line 1 Line 2 Variations: Line 3 Variations: Line 4 Variations: |
| Line 1 Replacements | ||
| θεὸς ἡμῶν ὁ θεὸς θεὸς θεὲ |
ἐστὶν ~ ἐστιν (if emphatic, it is accented on the ultima) |
Three syllable adjectives (oxytone and proparoxytone)
Three word phrases (oxytone)
|
| Line 2 Replacements | ||
| Indicative: καὶ ἄρχει σὺ ἄρχεις βασιλεύει βασιλεύεις Imperative: ἀρχέτω βασιλεύτω Optative: κἂν ἄρχοις Subjunctive: κἂν ἄρξῃ |
ἀπ' οὐρανῶν from the heavens ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ from heaven θρόνῳ σῷ on your throne θρόνῳ σου on your throne |
|
| Line 3 Replacements | ||
| 3 ἐν σοφίᾳ, ἀγάπῃ, δυνάμει 3 ἀγάπῃ, σοφίᾳ, δυναμεῖ 3 ἐν σοφίᾳ, δυνάμει, κἀγάπῃ 3 ἀγάπῃ τε καὶ δυνάμει |
Paroxytone Nouns: Barytone Adjectives: |
|
|
||
