Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing: A Look at the Lyrics
Have you ever really thought about the lyrics to “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing?” When you break them down and really think about what they are saying, they are amazing!
If I had to pick just one favorite hymn, it would be hard, but I think this would probably be the one! Let’s take a look at the lyrics and see these powerful words!
The Hymn
Author: Robert Robinson 1758
Tune: Nettleton 1812
As you can see, this is a really old hymn, but it has stood the test of time. We still sing it at church, and new artists are constantly putting it on their albums. I will link a few versions of the song below.
Join Us
Please join us as we read the Word each week and share more faith, family and food ideas, all through the legacy of Grace and Joy.
My First Real Encounter with the Lyrics
Back in the early 2000s, Jay and I, along with another couple, John and Traci, went to youth camp as chaperones. Todd Agnew was the worship leader that week, and we literally worshiped!
I will never forget the whole auditorium singing, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” It was beautiful, and then he stopped everyone right in the middle of the song. He asked all of the youth in the room what it was they were singing about when they said, “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” No one could tell him.
He challenged them to look into it throughout the week, but he said that we would not sing that verse until we knew the meaning of what we were singing. What an impact that made!
I can’t remember if someone went to him and shared what they found out, or if he eventually shared it with everyone. I know that by the end of the week we were all singing all of the verses, and everyone was well aware of the meaning of Ebenezer – Stone of Help.
For years, Traci and I would make eye contact every time we sang that song in church. It became both of our favorites!
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing’s Powerful Lyrics
Verse 1
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing;
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love!
(Other versions say, “Mount of Thy unchanging love.”)
Do you see how powerful some of these lyrics are? They are all amazing, but these really jump out at me!
- “Tune MY heart to sing Thy grace” – Don’t we all need the Lord to tune our hearts for worship?
- “Streams of mercy, never ceasing” – I think of His unending mercy every time I see clouds in the sky with sunbeams shining through! I am so glad His mercies are unending!!!
Verse 2
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
- “Here I raise my Ebenezer” – He is our Stone of Help!
- “Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God.” – He seeks us, brings us back to the fold, and protects us!
- “He to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.” – Think about the danger we would be in without salvation! Aren’t you glad He rescued us with His precious blood?
Verse 3
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.
(Some versions say, “Let Thy Grace, like a fetter”)
- “Let thy goodness, like a fetter” – A fetter is a chain or shackle to keep someone bound to something.
- “Bind my wandering heart to Thee.” – Oh how our hearts wander! When we focus on His goodness, we are more apt to stay bound to Him and not wander.
- “Prone to wander” and “Prone to leave the God I love” – So true!
- “Here’s my heart;” and “Seal it for Thy courts above.” – I love that we can give Him our hearts, and He makes them fit for Heaven!
Bonus Verse
This one is not in most hymnals, but it is amazing!
O that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face.
Clothed then in blood washed linen,
How I’ll sing Thy Sovereign grace.
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away.
Send Thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day
- “That day when freed from sinning” – No words needed here!
- “Clothed then in blood washed linen.” – His blood washes us clean!
- “Send Thine angels now to carry me to realms of endless day.” – Endless day!
Listen to “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
Shane & Shane have a beautiful version of the song here!
I love Chris Rice’s version! It used to be just about the only one with all 3 verses. This one has the bonus verse also!
There is one other song that I hope you will listen to. Listen for the lyrics that say:
“Oh every Ebenezer points to where my help comes from!”
Here is the link to the song, “Just as Good” by Chris Renzema and Ellie Holcomb.
What About You?
What really stands out in these verses to you? Are there other songs that really grab your attention? Please share!
Bible Study Resources
These are a few of my favorite Bible study resources.
- Hymnal – The one like I have pictured below is out of print, but you can buy it used. It is a really good hymnal though!
- She Reads Truth Bible
- Men’s Bible
Fun Gift Idea with Eternal Value
If you have joined me recently, these daily life applications from the Bible are examples of some of the comments I am writing in the Bibles I am giving to my grandchildren when they graduate from high school.
This is such a fun project with eternal effects. Click here to see the post where I explain this eternal gift idea. I want to give them all the resources I can to use in today’s world!
Related Posts
1 – My Top 11 Christian Songs of Encouragement with Soul
2 – My Top 11 Christian Songs of Hope and Restoration
Until next week…
disclosure: Amazon affiliate links and others are used on this page. Thank you for supporting Home with Grace and Joy. When you purchase an item, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure and privacy policy on the website.
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants
and my blessing on your offspring.”
Isaiah 44:3
I love this. Visiting from SSPS. What a good idea to explain hymns. Some are very hard to understand.
Thank you so much! It is one of my absolute favorites!
I had never heard this song before. It’s beautiful! I so appreciate you breaking down the verses and explaining what Ebenezer means.
Visiting today from Joanne’s.
I am glad you got to hear this one. I love it so much! The words are so powerful!
Such a good song, Susan. It has such a special place in our family too. “Tune my heart to sing Thy grace,” gets me all kinds of teary every time I hear it! Hope you’re having a great week, CoCo
Yes, that line is amazing! I love it! I hope you have a great week as well!
I love the Ebenezer concept. Someone years back encouraged us to make our own lists of Ebenezers–those times when we especially saw God’s hand at work. What a blessing to make and then think through that list.
This is such a great hymn!
What a great idea! You will always have that list to look back on for encouragement and a reminder of His goodness!
This is a lovely look at a beautiful hymn. I learned the meaning of Ebenezer not too long ago myself. I haven’t ever heard that 4th verse! Thank you for sharing this with us at the Will Blog for Comments #57 linkup. See you at #58–it opens Monday morning.
I love that 4th verse! I wish we would sing that one!