Eternal Father! strong to save

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Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave

Author: William Whiting (1860)
Tune: MELITA (Dykes)
Prayer Songs
Published in 457 hymnals

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	Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Piano/Organ
	The Art of Hymn Playing: 250 Introductio…

Choral
	Give Us, This year

Representative Text

1 Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm does bind the restless wave,
Who bids the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

2 O Savior, whose almighty word
The winds and waves submissive heard,
Who walked upon the foaming deep,
And calm amid the rage did sleep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

3 O Holy Spirit, who did brood
Upon the waters dark and rude,
And bid their angry tumult cease,
And give for wild confusion peace;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

4 O Trinity of love and pow'r,
Your children shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire, and foe,
Protect them where-so-e'er they go;
Thus, evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

Baptist Hymnal, 1991

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Author: William Whiting

William Whiting was born in Kensington, November 1, 1825, and was educated at Clapham and Winchester Colleges. He was later master of Winchester College Choristers' School, where he wrote Rural Thoughts and Other Poems, 1851. He died at Winchester. --The Hymnal 1940 Companion… Go to person page >

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Related Texts

First Line:	Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave
Title:	Eternal Father! strong to save
Author:	William Whiting (1860)
Meter:	8.8.8.8.8.8
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	O hear us when we cry to Thee
Notes:	Spanish translation: See "Eterno y poderoso Dios" by Anonymous
Copyright:	Public Domain
Liturgical Use:	Prayer Songs

Year A, Holy Week season, Tuesday of Holy Week
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 14 (19)
This is recommended for Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 14 (19) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #8.
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 26 (31)
Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 6 (11)
Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 7 (12)
This is recommended for Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 7 (12) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #8.
Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 12 (17)
This is recommended for Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 12 (17) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #8.
Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 24 (29)
This is recommended for Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 24 (29) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #8.

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Notes

Eternal Father, strong to save. W. Whiting. [For those at Sea.] Of this hymn the following texts are known :—
1. The original manuscript, 1860, a reprint of which is preserved in Biggs's Annotated Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1867, pp.270-271.
2. The revised text by the Compilers of Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861, No. 222. This is most widely used of any.
3. A revision by the author made for the Appendix to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Psalms and Hymns, 1869, and repeated in Church Hymns, 1871, No. 321.
4. A Latin version also by Whiting, in Biggs's Annotated Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1867, pp. 270-71. This version is of the Hymns Ancient & Modern, revised text of 1861, and not of the original manuscript.
The lack of hymns for those at sea, together with its merits as a hymn, rendered it exceedingly popular from its first publication, and its use has become most extensive in English-speaking countries. Hodges, of Frome, has published a short tale founded thereupon, and entitled "Hymn 222." Original text as above, authorized text, Church Hymns, No. 321.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Tune

MELITA (Dykes)

The original chant melody associated with this text [i.e., "Eternal Father, strong to save"] is found in most hymnals of denominations where chant has played a role, including the Lutheran tradition, which has produced much organ music on this well-known chant. The setting here is by John B. Dykes (…

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For Leaders

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The first three stanzas of this hymn appeal to the Trinity with Scripture passages where each Person controlled the sea, imploring “O hear us when we cry to Thee for those in peril on the sea.” The first stanza refers to God's discourse with Job, in which the Lord asks “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I … said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?” (Job 38:8, 11 ESV) The second stanza refers to two occasions when Jesus calmed the raging sea: when He walked on the water (Mark 6:45-52), and when He slept through a storm until His terrified disciples woke Him (Mark 4:35-41). The third stanza alludes to Creation, when “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2 ESV) The final stanza summarizes the hymn and promises continued praise “from land and sea.”

Text:

William Whiting wrote this hymn in 1860 in England. It was modified in 1861 by the editors of Hymns Ancient and Modern, where it was first published. Whiting also revised it a few times. It has become a favorite of seafaring people in English-speaking countries, both civilian and military. In America, its affiliation as the “Navy Hymn” is prompted in part by the practice dating from 1879 of concluding the Sunday services at the Naval Academy at Annapolis with the first stanza of this hymn. The first three stanzas of this hymn appeal to the Trinity with Scripture passages where each Person controlled the sea, while the final stanza summarizes the hymn and promises continued praise “from land and sea.”

Tune:

MELITA is named after the island where Paul was shipwrecked (Acts 28:1 KJV; modern Bible translations have “Malta”). It is a fitting name for a tune associated with a text about safety on the seas. MELITA was composed by John B. Dykes especially for this text in 1861, and they were published together in Hymns Ancient and Modern.

This tune is well-known and should pose little problem for congregational singing. However, the rhythm is consistently steady, with no obvious places for breathing, so worship leaders should choose a moderate tempo and indicate the ends of phrases. There is quite a bit of chromaticism throughout, which adds intensity to the mood.

When/Why/How:

Because of this hymn's association with the navy, it is used for services connected to the armed forces, such as Memorial Day. It is also used for sailors' funerals. Although this familiar tune is not hard to sing, congregation members may be more familiar with hearing instrumental versions, such as are found in “All Nature Sings” for piano with the melody in varying registers, or “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” a piano and organ duet that begins in a quiet, prayerful mood but swells to a majestic climax.

Tiffany Shomsky,
Hymnary.org

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Baptist Hymnal 1991 #69

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The Cyber Hymnal #1363

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Worship and Rejoice #74

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Page Scans

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Magnify the Lord: a 21st century Anglican hymnal (2019), p.423

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Instances in all hymnals

Instances (1 - 90 of 90)

Piano/Organ The Art of Hymn Playing: 250 Introductions, Preludes, Free Accompaniments, & Alternate Harmonizations 2nd Edition All-Time Favorites - Vol. 1 Eternal Father, Strong to Save More Piano/Organ...
Choral Give Us, This year CHOIR HYMNAL, THE Abound in Hope More Choral...
Instrumental Festive Hymn Settings TIMELESS MUSIC FOR WEDDING & SPECIAL OCCASIONS More Instrumental...
Handbells ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE More Handbells...
PowerPoint ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE (Celebration 808) ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE (Baptist 1991 - 69) ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE (Hymnal for Worship & Celebration ) More PowerPoint...

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