what hath God wrought

English

Etymology

Archaic form of the question “what has God made?”, from the Bible, King James Version;[1] popularized especially by being used as the first message sent by telegraph in the United States, by Samuel Morse (May 24, 1844).

Interjection

what hath God wrought

  1. (archaic) An expression of wonder and marvel at something.
    • 1855, Thomas Raffles, A Burning and A Shining Light, page 151:
      A divine unction evidently attended his ministry, and such were the effects produced, that every beholder, with astonishment and admiration, cried "what hath God wrought!"
    • 1925, Donald Ogden Stewart, The Crazy Fool, page 224:
      "Oh, my God !" he cried. "He's invented photography." "What hath God wrought?" said the old man, trying to get up.
    • 1969, Paul W. Glad, The Process of American History: Early America, page 84:
      Surely of this work, and of this time, it shall be said, what hath God wrought!
    • 1987, Edward Fischer, Notre Dame Remembered: An Autobiography, page 173:
      When Frank put the receiver to his ear, a sepulchral voice asked, "What hath God wrought?"
    • 2011, A. W. Tozer, James L. Snyder, A Disruptive Faith: Expect God to Interrupt Your Life, page 186:
      The rich man got up, called off the suit and everybody said, “What hath God wrought?”

Translations

References
  1. The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1611, →OCLC, Numbers 23:23.: “Surely there is no inchantment against Iacob, neither is there any diuination against Israel: according to this time it shalbe said of Iacob, and of Israel, What hath God wrought!”
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