# Is “God works in mysterious ways” in the Bible?

> No. “God works in mysterious ways” is not a Bible verse. It comes from Christian tradition, not Scripture.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/god-works-in-mysterious-ways
By Andrew Kittridge · October 28, 2026

Scripture does say God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and beyond tracing out (Romans 11:33), but this line comes from a hymn.

Christian tradition, not Scripture. Origin: William Cowper’s 1773 hymn “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.”

## What the Bible says instead

> For my thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, and your ways are nothing like my ways, declares Yahweh. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.
>
> — [Isaiah 55:8-9](https://www.lumin.faith/read/isaiah/55#8) (Lumin Translation)

> Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and how beyond tracing out are his ways!
>
> — [Romans 11:33](https://www.lumin.faith/read/romans/11#33) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Is “God works in mysterious ways” in the Bible?

No. “God works in mysterious ways” is not a Bible verse. It comes from Christian tradition, not Scripture. Scripture does say God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and beyond tracing out (Romans 11:33), but this line comes from a hymn.

### Where does “God works in mysterious ways” come from?

William Cowper’s 1773 hymn “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.”

### What does the Bible say instead?

Read Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 11:33. Scripture does say God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and beyond tracing out (Romans 11:33), but this line comes from a hymn.

## More

- [Is “Be in the world but not of the world” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/be-in-the-world-but-not-of-the-world.md)
- [Is “To err is human, to forgive divine” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/to-err-is-human-to-forgive-divine.md)
- [Is “God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/god-gives-his-hardest-battles-to-his-strongest-soldiers.md)
- [Is “Cat” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/cat.md)
- [Is “Dragon” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/dragon.md)
- [Is “Jehovah” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/jehovah.md)
- [Is “Sabbath” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/sabbath.md)
- [Is “Witch” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/witch.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)