STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS
That was a wonder–working word The old and new creation
John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book II, no. 80, under Job 38:7.
WRITTEN BY
John Newton 1725–1807
PRINTED
1779 Olney Hymns · no. 80
METRE
Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 6 stanzas
WRITTEN ON
Job 38:7 the verse printed above it
The hymn, and the Scripture in it
All 6 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
That was a wonder–working word
Which could the vast creation raise!
Angels, attendant on their LORD,
Admired the plan, and sung his praise.
Where Newton found it
Newton printed the hymn under Job 38:7. The line that comes closest to it is marked.
while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? JOB 38:7 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ JOB 38
That was a wonder–working word Which could the vast creation raise! Angels, attendant on their LORD, Admired the plan, and sung his praise. STANZA I
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 80. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.
NO. 80 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN That was a wonder–working word
Rooted in Scripture. Open for discovery.
A place to read slowly, ask deeply, and follow the connections. Scripture, study and the voices of Christian history, brought together for a lifetime of learning.
SPEND TIME IN THE WORD
- Open the reader
- Books & reading progress
- Compare Scripture editions
- Find a passage
FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONS
- Study collections
- People & places
- Faith & apologetics
- Stories of faith
A library with a paper trail.
Meet the authors. Explore the collection. Trace each work to its source.
Download the code.
Open source on GitHub.