Job 19:25-27: "25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another."
Colossians 1:18: "And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."
Hebrews 7:25: "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
John 14:2-3: "2 'In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.'"
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The text is public domain:
I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever-living head.
He lives triumphant from the grave;
He lives eternally to save;
He lives all-glorious in the sky;
He lives exalted there on high.
He lives to bless me with His love;
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to help in time of need.
He lives to grant me rich supply;
He lives to guide me with His eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint;
He lives to hear my soul's complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.
He lives, my kind, wise, heav'nly friend;
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.
He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same;
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!
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The Biblical sources for this are easily identifiable. In the first verse, "I know that my Redeemer lives" (which is repeated at the very end) comes directly from Job 19:25, and "My ever-living head" is from Colossians 1:18 ("he is the head of the body, the church"). "He lives to plead for me above" in the third verse comes from "he always lives to make intercession for them" in Hebrews 7:25. "He lives my mansion to prepare" in the seventh verse refers to the verses from John 14.
"He lives to wipe away my tears" in the fifth verse seems to be a reference to Revelation 21:4: "'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"
The titles "my Prophet, Priest, and King" in the sixth verse come from Luther's Small Catechism.
Looking over the text, it occurs to me that the numerous "He lives" are an example of anaphora, a rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is repeated. In the hymn, it provides not only a sense of the myriad ways in which God provides for us, but also a sense of the ebullience we experience because of His resurrection.
"He lives to wipe away my tears" in the fifth verse seems to be a reference to Revelation 21:4: "'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"
The titles "my Prophet, Priest, and King" in the sixth verse come from Luther's Small Catechism.
Looking over the text, it occurs to me that the numerous "He lives" are an example of anaphora, a rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is repeated. In the hymn, it provides not only a sense of the myriad ways in which God provides for us, but also a sense of the ebullience we experience because of His resurrection.
