He's got the Whole World in his hands. The sun and the moon in his hands. The little bitty baby in his hands.

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"

Genesis 2:7 " Then the Lord formed the man of dust from the ground."

🌍 He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

Created by Pamela, Microsoft Copilot.

✨ Synopsis of the Song

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands is a timeless African‑American spiritual that expresses a simple, profound truth: God holds all creation in His loving hands.

Each verse widens the circle of care — from the whole world to the baby, to the brother and sister, to the sun and moon, to the rivers and mountains, and finally to everybody here.

The repetition is intentional. It comforts. It reassures. It reminds us that nothing is outside God’s reach. This is why the song has endured in churches, homes, marches, concerts, and classrooms for generations.

🎶 Original Lines of the Song

He’s got the whole world in His hands
He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands
He’s got you and me, brother, in His hands
He’s got you and me, sister, in His hands
He’s got the sun and the moon in His hands
He’s got the rivers and the mountains in His hands
He’s got everybody here in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands

✨ Creators and Preservers of the Song

Divine Source

God — the ultimate Creator and the inspiration behind all spirituals

Human Contributors

Unknown African‑American believers

First creators of the song
Passed it down orally in the late 1800s–early 1900s
Rooted in faith, suffering, hope, and resilience

Edward Hammond Boatner (1898–1981)

First major publisher of the song
Included it in Spirituals Triumphant, Old and New (1927)

Frank Warner & Robert Sonkin

Early collectors who preserved folk versions in the 1930s–40s

Laurie London (1957–58)

Recorded the version that became an international hit
Helped bring spiritual to global audiences

Beloved Performers Who Carried It Forward

Marian Anderson
Mahalia Jackson
Judy Garland
Nina Simone
Countless gospel choirs and church communities

These individuals and communities helped the song travel from its sacred origins into the heart of the world.

The song’s repetition is intentional. It comforts, reassures, and reminds us that nothing is outside God’s reach. This is why it has lived for generations in churches, homes, marches, concerts, and classrooms.