Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal

History, Meaning, and Impact of One of Christianity’s Greatest Hymns
Introduction

“Holy, Holy, Holy,” hymn #73 in the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, is one of the most recognized and beloved hymns in Christian worship. With its majestic melody and rich Trinitarian theology, the hymn calls believers to join heaven’s angels in worshiping God’s perfect holiness.

Often used in morning worship, communion services, and reverent gatherings, this hymn remains a timeless anthem of praise across Christian denominations, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

True Historical Background
Lyricist: Reginald Heber (1783–1826)

The text of “Holy, Holy, Holy” was written by Reginald Heber, an English Anglican bishop and hymn writer. Heber wrote the hymn specifically for Trinity Sunday, a day that focuses on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His aim was to create a majestic song that captured the awe of Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8.

Heber completed the hymn around 1826, but it was published posthumously in 1827.

Composer: John Bacchus Dykes (1823–1876)

The tune NICAEA was composed by John B. Dykes, one of the most influential English church musicians of the 19th century. Dykes wrote the melody in 1861, naming it after Nicaea, the city where the early Christian church affirmed the doctrine of the Trinity at the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.).

The tune’s slow, powerful progression matches the hymn’s grandeur and theological depth.

Publication in Hymnals
Lyrics: 1826
Tune: 1861
Combined in hymnals: late 19th century

Included in the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal: 1985

Today, it stands among the most important hymns in Protestant worship worldwide.

Meaning and Message of the Hymn
1. A Hymn of Pure Adoration
The repeated triple “holy” reflects the angelic worship found in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4. The hymn lifts the congregation into the heavenly throne room, joining creation in praising God’s majesty.

2. A Celebration of the Trinity
The hymn worships God in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—emphasizing unity, glory, and eternal power.

3. God’s Holiness and Perfection
Lines such as “Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!” announce God's unmatched purity, sovereignty, and authority.

4. Human Humility Before God
“Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see”
acknowledges humanity’s limitations in fully grasping God’s greatness.

5. Universal Worship
The hymn declares that all creation—saints, angels, and heavenly beings—worship the eternal God.

Biblical Foundations

The hymn draws heavily from Scripture:
Isaiah 6:3
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

Revelation 4:8–11
The heavenly beings worship God day and night, crying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.”

Psalm 99:3
“Let them praise Your great and awesome name—He is holy.”

Matthew 28:19
Affirms the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.