God Is Great, God Is Good Prayer: Words & Bible Meaning

The God is great, God is good prayer is a familiar Christian blessing said before meals. Its short, rhyming lines help children and adults pause to thank God for their food. But where did the prayer come from, and how does it connect with the Bible? Below, you will find a commonly used version, an older wording, the history we can establish, and the meaning behind each line. We will also look at other table blessings and how to keep a familiar prayer sincere rather than simply repeating words out of habit.

The full words of the prayer

The words are easy to remember, which is one reason families have passed this prayer down through generations. Small differences appear between versions, so you may recognize wording that is slightly different from the one below.

A commonly used version:

God is great, God is good,
And we thank Him for our food.
By His hands we all are fed;
Give us, Lord, our daily bread.
Amen.

There is no single authorized text for this traditional prayer. Some families say “let us thank Him” instead of “and we thank Him,” while others use “By His hand” rather than “By His hands.” These small changes do not alter its central message: gratitude for food and trust in God’s provision.

People also search for the words in a different order, including “God is good, God is great prayer.” The phrases “God is good, good is great” and “God is great, good is good” are sometimes searched or remembered incorrectly. They are not separate established versions of the prayer; the familiar wording is “God is great, God is good.”

Where the prayer came from

The exact author and date of the English-language God Is Great, God Is Good prayer have not been firmly established. It is best described as a traditional Christian table grace rather than a prayer with a confirmed individual author. Its familiar rhyme and straightforward language made it easy to pass along in homes and in children’s religious teaching.

The practice of saying grace before meals remains part of religious life for many Americans. According to Pew Research Center’s 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study, 33% of U.S. adults say grace or pray before meals always or often, while another 18% do so sometimes. The figures describe the broader practice, not the use of this particular prayer.

A related prayer, commonly called the Common Table Prayer, begins “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.” Research published in Lutheran Quarterly traces its earliest known printing to a schoolbook published by Johann Conrad Quensen in Leipzig in 1698. The prayer later spread more widely, with a 1753 London hymnal associated with Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf helping carry it into Moravian use. The study does not establish Quensen as its certain author, so the distinction between earliest known printing and confirmed authorship matters. Read the historical study.

The history of the God Is Great, God Is Good rhyme should be treated with the same care: without a reliable record establishing its author or first publication, assigning it to a particular person or year would go beyond the available evidence.

Line by line: what the words mean in Scripture

The prayer itself is a traditional Christian prayer, not a quotation from the Bible. Each line, however, echoes biblical teachings about God’s greatness, goodness, gratitude, and daily provision.

“God is great.”

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.” — Psalm 145:3 (KJV)

Psalm 145 praises God’s greatness as beyond human understanding. Before a meal, this line reminds us that our lives depend on more than what we can see or provide for ourselves. For example, a family can pause to recognize the work of farmers, cooks, and everyone who helped bring food to the table while giving God thanks.

“God is good.”

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” — Psalm 34:8 (KJV)

Psalm 34 invites readers to trust and experience God’s goodness. This does not mean every day will be easy or every need will be met in the way we expect. It means we can remember God’s character even in difficult seasons. A person facing uncertainty might use this line as a reminder to pray with trust rather than take today’s blessings for granted.

“Let us thank Him for our food.”

“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” — 1 Timothy 4:4–5 (KJV)

Paul’s words concern receiving God’s creation with thanksgiving and prayer. In Matthew 15:36, Jesus also gives thanks before distributing bread and fish:

“And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” — Matthew 15:36 (KJV)

Together, these passages offer a biblical basis for giving thanks before eating. In practical terms, a family might remember people who lack reliable access to food and look for a way to help.

“Give us, Lord, our daily bread.”

“Give us this day our daily bread.” — Matthew 6:11 (KJV)

This line closely echoes the Lord’s Prayer, in which Jesus teaches His disciples to ask for daily bread. It reminds us to bring ordinary needs to God, not only major troubles. Someone praying before breakfast, for instance, can ask for strength for the day and remember that food and other necessities should not be taken for granted. For more context, see [INTERNAL LINK: Lord’s Prayer explained].

Teaching a child to pray at the table

A short meal prayer can help children learn gratitude through a simple family habit. The aim is not perfect recitation; it is helping them understand why the family stops to give thanks.

• Say it together. Let children hear the prayer regularly, without turning it into a test they must pass.
• Explain the words. Tell them that “daily bread” means the food and necessities we need each day.
• Invite one personal sentence. After the familiar prayer, give each child the option to thank God in their own words for one thing from that day.
• Connect gratitude with kindness. Explain that not every family has enough food, and discuss age-appropriate ways to share with others.
• Keep the moment welcoming. If a child forgets a line, gently continue rather than making the prayer a source of embarrassment.

The same habit can fit special meals, too. At a birthday dinner, children might thank God for the person being celebrated and for everyone who gathered. At Thanksgiving, the family can use the prayer as a starting point and mention the people, food, and help they are especially grateful for.

As children grow, passages such as Psalm 100:4–5 can help them understand that thanksgiving is part of worship. A familiar prayer can open the door to a more personal faith without requiring long or complicated words.

Four other short table blessings

Families can use different prayers before meals. These four options draw on Christian tradition and Scripture, each with its own emphasis.

1. The Common Table Prayer

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest,
And let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.

This traditional blessing asks Christ to be welcomed at the table and the meal to be blessed. Its German predecessor, “Komm, Herr Jesu, sei unser Gast,” is documented in a schoolbook printed in 1698. The prayer’s author remains uncertain; Martin Luther should not be credited as its author without evidence. Historical source: Lutheran Quarterly.

2. The Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Doxology is a short hymn of praise commonly credited to Bishop Thomas Ken and dated to the late seventeenth century, often 1674. It is not specifically a meal prayer, but its words make it suitable for a family wishing to express gratitude for God’s blessings. The text is in the public domain. See the hymn text and attribution.

3. A one-line prayer from Psalm 136:1

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” — Psalm 136:1 (KJV)

This verse gives a direct biblical expression of gratitude. A family can say it before eating and then briefly name one reason to be thankful. For more passages, see Thanksgiving Bible verses.

4. Catholic grace before meals

Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

This traditional Catholic grace asks God to bless both the people at the table and the food they are about to receive. Families may use it as part of their established prayer tradition, or learn about its wording from a Catholic prayer resource.

Is it wrong to say the same prayer every meal?

No. Repeating a prayer is not automatically wrong. The issue is whether the words become empty recitation or remain a sincere expression of faith.

Jesus warns against empty, showy repetition in Matthew 6:7–8:

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” — Matthew 6:7–8 (KJV)

The surrounding passage matters. Immediately afterward, Jesus teaches His disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13), a structured prayer that Christians have repeated for generations. His warning is not that familiar words are always wrong; it is against treating many words as a way to compel God to listen.

A repeated meal prayer can be meaningful when we pay attention to what we are saying. If the words begin to feel automatic, pause for a moment and add one specific thank-you, such as gratitude for the person who prepared the meal or a request for help for someone who is hungry. Familiar words can still come from a sincere heart.

Frequently asked questions

A simple prayer worth remembering

The God Is Great, God Is Good prayer gives families a few familiar words with which to begin a meal in gratitude. Its wording is traditional, but its central themes are firmly reflected in Scripture: God’s greatness, His goodness, and our daily dependence on Him. Whether you use this rhyme or pray in your own words, let the moment be sincere. A simple thank-you can remind us to receive what we have with gratitude and to remember those who have less.