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O Thou, at whose almighty word A prayer for power on the means of grace

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book II, no. 18, under Numbers 20:11.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 18

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Numbers 20:11 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 7 stanzas as Newton printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

O Thou, at whose almighty word

O Thou, at whose almighty word,

The glorious light from darkness sprung!

Thy quick’ning influence afford,

And clothe with pow’r the preacher’s tongue.

No line of this stanza quotes a verse closely; it is the hymn's own confession.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under Numbers 20:11. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink. NUMBERS 20:11 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ NUMBERS 20

As when of old, the water flowed Forth from the rock at thy command; Moses in vain had waved the rod, Without thy wonder–working hand. STANZA III

Its place in the book

Book II of the hymn book, “On occasional subjects”, holds these hymns in this order: 100 hymns. This is number 18. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 18 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN O Thou, at whose almighty word

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