Martin Luther wrote this hymn as a paraphrase of Isaiah 6:1–4 specifically to serve as the Sanctus in his 1526 Deutsche Messe, and it became by far the most widely used Sanctus in Lutheran church orders of the Reformation era. Unlike the traditional Sanctus, which is limited to the seraphim’s song and the Palm Sunday shout, Luther’s hymn paraphrases the entire narrative of Isaiah’s throne-room vision. Luther loved the text so much that he listed it among three hymns ideal for singing during the distribution of Communion. He deliberately retained the transliterated Hebrew Sabaoth, the military title identifying the Lord as commander-in-chief of the heavenly hosts. The musical setting in LSB 960 was transposed down to D major to ease congregational singing, and Henry V. Gerike’s arrangement adds the organ pedal dramatically at the triple “Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth.”
Sung at Our Saviour
2026