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He Hideth My Soul

The Author: Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915)

Composer: William J. Kirkpatrick (1838–1921)

"He Hideth My Soul" Lyrics

Chorus

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, That shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, And covers me there with His hand, And covers me there with His hand.

Stanzas

  1. A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, A wonderful Savior to me; He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, Where rivers of pleasure I see. (Chorus)
  2. A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, He taketh my burden away; He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved, He giveth me strength as my day. (Chorus)
  3. With numberless blessings He filleth my life, His promises fail not with time; And while through the wilderness pathway I tread, He feedeth my soul with the manna divine. (Chorus)
  4. When clothed in His brightness transported I rise To meet Him in clouds of the air, His perfect salvation, His wonderful love, I’ll shout with the glorified there. (Chorus)

Background and Authorship

The Author: Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915)

  • Born: Putnam County, New York, USA.
  • Life: Fanny Crosby is arguably the most famous and prolific American hymn writer, having composed an estimated 8,000 hymns over her lifetime. She became blind shortly after birth due to a medical mishap, but she never allowed her disability to hinder her faith or her enormous output. Her cheerful, resilient spirit defined her work.
  • Legacy: She wrote under many pseudonyms to avoid saturating hymnals. Her hymns were foundational to the American gospel music movement and remain staples in churches worldwide ("Blessed Assurance," "All the Way My Savior Leads Me").

The Composer: William J. Kirkpatrick (1838–1921)

  • Born: Duncannon, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Life: Kirkpatrick was a highly respected musician, composer, and publisher in the American gospel music scene. He was a Methodist minister and a veteran of the Civil War. His collaboration with John R. Sweney in publishing hymnals made him a powerhouse in late 19th-century church music.
  • Contribution: Kirkpatrick composed the strong, comforting tune for "He Hideth My Soul." The melody is designed to emphasize the powerful, reassuring imagery of the text, giving the hymn its lasting, steadfast feel.

The Hymn's History

  • Origin: "He Hideth My Soul" was written in 1890 and quickly gained popularity as an anthem of divine refuge.
  • Core Imagery: The central image of the hymn—the "cleft of the rock"—is a powerful biblical metaphor for protection, refuge, and safety found only in God, perfectly encapsulated by Crosby's ability to translate complex theological concepts into accessible, moving poetry.

Scriptural Significance (KJV)

The hymn is a masterwork of scriptural allusion, woven throughout with language and metaphors from the King James Version.

  • Central Theme: The Cleft of the Rock (Chorus & Stanza 1) This is a direct reference to God's sheltering presence, most famously seen when Moses asked to see God's glory:

"And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by." — Exodus 33:22 (KJV)

  • Theme: God as the Rock of Refuge The concept of God as a protective rock is a constant Old Testament theme:

"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." — Psalm 18:2 (KJV)

  • Theme: Strength for the Day (Stanza 2) The assurance of strength when burdens are heavy comes from the promise to the Israelites:

"As thy days, so shall thy strength be." — Deuteronomy 33:25 (KJV)

  • Theme: Manna Divine in the Wilderness (Stanza 3) This recalls God's miraculous provision during the Israelites' journey:

"Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day." — Exodus 16:4 (KJV)

 

 

Uplifting Lore and History

The uplifting lore surrounding "He Hideth My Soul" is directly linked to the remarkable resilience and faith of Fanny Crosby.

  • The Blind Woman's Vision: It is profoundly uplifting that Fanny Crosby, who lived her entire life in darkness, wrote such vivid, comforting songs about spiritual vision and safety. Her lack of physical sight seemed to sharpen her spiritual insight. The image of the "cleft of the rock" in a "dry, thirsty land" was not just poetry to her; it was the reality of her reliance on Christ for safety and sustenance in a difficult world. She often stated, "When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"
  • The Power of the Chorus: This hymn's most enduring legacy is the repetitive, declarative nature of its chorus. It is not a question, but a settled fact: "He hideth my soul... And covers me there with His hand." This simple, repeated assurance has provided tremendous comfort in countless moments of crisis, doubt, and fear, acting as a spiritual mantra of divine protection for believers facing literal or figurative storms.
  • Her Testimony of Joy: Despite being blind and often experiencing financial hardship, Fanny Crosby was renowned for her unwavering cheerfulness. She once wrote, "I have never complained about my blindness; there is no time for that." Her hymns, especially those like "He Hideth My Soul," are a reflection of her personal testimony: that true joy and safety are not found in perfect worldly circumstances, but in the unshakeable refuge of Jesus Christ.

 

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