Many of us sing hymns without ever stopping to consider where the words came from or how deeply they are rooted in Scripture. A hymn can tell a story, teach biblical truth, point us to specific passages, and give us a glimpse into the faith of the person who wrote it.
Instead of simply singing a hymn, you can turn it into a Bible study. It can be as easy as:
Learn the story → Study the words → Find the Scripture → Dig deeper → Respond in worship
1. Start With the Story Behind the Hymn
Before studying the words, learn why the hymn was written.
Research questions could include:
- Who wrote the hymn?
- When was it written?
- Where was the author living?
- What was happening in their life at the time?
- Was there a particular event that inspired the hymn?
- Was the hymn written during a time of suffering, joy, revival, grief, persecution, or celebration?
- Was it written for a particular person or occasion?
- What church or ministry was the author connected with?
- What was happening historically when it was written?
This gives children context for the words they're about to study.
A fun activity:
Create a Hymn Timeline.
Have students put several hymns in chronological order and then add important historical events alongside them.
2. Meet the Hymn Writer
Spend some time learning about the author of the hymn.
Depending on the hymn, you could investigate:
- Birth and death dates
- Family
- Education
- Occupation
- Church involvement
- Missionary work
- Ministry
- Important events in their life
- Other hymns they wrote
Activity: Author Profile
Have students create a one-page profile:
Name:
Born:
Died:
Occupation:
Ministry:
Other Hymns:
Important Event:
What I Learned About the Author:
This would also pair nicely with the character-profile style studies you already use.
3. Don't Forget the Music
The person who wrote the words and the person who wrote the music may be different people.
Research:
- Who composed the tune?
- When was the music written?
- Was the tune written specifically for this hymn?
- Did the composer know the hymn writer?
- Did they work together?
- Was an existing tune paired with the words later?
- Has the hymn been sung to different tunes over the years?
This creates a great history lesson.
You can compare the lives of the lyricist and composer and look at how their stories intersected.
Activity: Match the Pair
Give students cards with:
- Hymn titles
- Authors
- Composers
- Dates
Have them match the correct pieces together.
4. Read the Hymn Like a Bible Student
Now get into the heart of the study. Instead of simply singing the hymn, read the words carefully. Start with one verse at a time.
Ask:
- What is this verse saying?
- Who is speaking?
- Who is being spoken about?
- What does this verse teach about God?
- What does it teach about Jesus?
- What does it teach about people?
- Is there a command?
- Is there a promise?
- Is there a warning?
- Is there a description of God's character?
- What words or phrases stand out?
You could even have students underline or circle important words.
5. Find the Direct Scripture References
This is where the hymn becomes a true Bible study. Take each verse and look for Scripture that directly supports the words.
For example:
Hymn phrase:
"Jesus loves me"
Then look for passages that directly teach that truth.
Don't stop at one verse. Look for several passages that establish the biblical idea.
Create a simple chart:
| Hymn Words | Scripture Reference | What Does This Verse Teach? |
|---|---|---|
| Phrase from hymn | Bible reference | Explanation |
| Phrase from hymn | Bible reference | Explanation |
This teaches children an important Bible-study skill:
Don't just accept what a song says! Open the Bible and see what Scripture says.
6. Look for Indirect or Thematic Connections
This is where you can take the study deeper. Not every phrase in a hymn will be a direct quotation from Scripture. Some ideas are biblical themes rather than direct references.
Ask:
"Where else do we see this idea in Scripture?"
For example, a hymn might talk about:
- God's faithfulness
- Walking with God
- God's protection
- Forgiveness
- Heaven
- God's creation
- Christ's sacrifice
- God's holiness
- Trusting God during trials
Have students search their Bibles for other passages that teach the same truth.
Teach the difference:
Direct connection:
The hymn is closely reflecting a specific passage.
Indirect connection:
The hymn expresses a biblical idea found throughout Scripture.
That's a great opportunity to teach kids context and careful Bible interpretation.
7. Study the Words and Vocabulary
Older hymns can contain words children don't understand. Make a list of unfamiliar words.
For example:
- grace
- mercy
- redemption
- ransom
- Ebenezer
- consecrate
- wretched
- immortal
- sovereign
Have students:
- Define the word.
- Look it up in a Bible dictionary.
- Find it in Scripture.
- Explain how the hymn is using it.
This can turn one unfamiliar word into an entire Bible study!
8. Compare Different Versions of the Hymn
Some hymns have:
- Older wording
- Modernized wording
- Missing verses
- Different translations
- Different tunes
Compare versions and ask:
What changed?
Did the meaning change?
Why might some verses have been left out?
This can lead into a discussion about how hymns have been passed down through generations.
9. Look at the Theology of the Hymn
This could be particularly valuable for older children.
Ask - What does this hymn teach us about God?
Then categorize what you find.
God: What does it teach about God's character?
Jesus: What does it teach about Christ?
The Holy Spirit: Does it mention His work?
Salvation: What does it teach about sin, grace, forgiveness, or redemption?
Christian Life: What does it teach about how believers should live?
Eternity: What does it teach about heaven, resurrection, or eternal life?
This helps children see that good hymns are often miniature theology lessons.
10. Turn the Hymn Into Games
This is where you can make the study especially engaging for kids.
Match the Author: Match the hymn with its author.
Match the Composer: Match the hymn with the person who wrote the music.
Finish the Line: Read part of a line and have students finish it.
Name That Hymn: Give clues from the lyrics and see if they can identify the hymn.
Match the Verse to the Reference: Give hymn excerpts and Scripture references and have students pair them.
Scripture or Hymn?
Read a phrase and have students decide:
- Is this from the hymn or from the Bible?
- Put the Verses in Order
- Print the verses on cards and have students put them in the correct order.
Hymn Timeline: Put hymns in chronological order.
Who Said It? Match quotes or interesting facts to the correct hymn writer.
11. Use Hymns for Scripture Memory
This might be one of the most useful applications.
Choose one or two Bible verses connected to the hymn.
Then:
Read the verse → Study the verse → Sing the hymn → Memorize the verse
The music and repetition can help reinforce the biblical truth.
You can also have children identify the Bible verse that best summarizes the hymn.
12. Write Your Own Hymn Study Questions
Once kids understand how to study a hymn, let them become the Bible researcher.
Give them a hymn and have them come up with:
- 3 historical questions
- 3 vocabulary questions
- 3 Bible questions
- 3 questions about God
- 3 Scripture references connected to the hymn
Older students could even create a complete hymn study for younger siblings.
13. Finish With Worship
Don't let the study end with the research. Return to the hymn. Sing it again.
But this time, students know:
- Who wrote it
- Why it was written
- What was happening in the author's life
- Who wrote the music
- What Scripture inspired the words
- What biblical truths it teaches
Then ask: "How does knowing all of this change the way you hear or sing this hymn?"
That gives the study a natural conclusion: Bible study leading to worship.
The next time you sing a hymn, don't just sing it—study it.
A hymn can open the door to history, geography, vocabulary, Bible study, theology, Scripture memory, and worship. And perhaps best of all, it gives children a chance to discover that the songs Christians have sung for generations are often filled with the very same truths they are learning in God's Word.
If you'd like to make hymn study a regular part of your Bible time, take a look at our new Hymn Bible Study & Activity Book. It gives you a simple way to take the hymns your family already knows and turn them into opportunities to explore Scripture, learn about hymn writers, and dig deeper into the truths behind the songs.
