Could a single confession change the way grief, doubt, and time are faced? This question cuts to the heart of a claim sung in homes and printed in scripture.
The refrain from Samuel Medley’s hymn—“what comfort this sweet sentence gives”—frames a living testimony that traces back to Job 19:25. That verse stands as a bold anchor for hope amid dust and despair.
In this brief journey, the aim is clear: to show why one can know redeemer lives with steady assurance. Scripture, hymnody, and the witness of the church all point toward the resurrection of jesus christ and the promise that the Redeemer will stand upon the earth at the end.
Read on to find plain reasons and living proofs that turn a line of poetry into a firm foundation of faith, a testimony that lifts family worship, steadies the heart in dark days, and renews courage for each year and day.
Why “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” Resonates Today
Job’s bold claim reaches across centuries to steady anxious hearts today. In a world that often feels unsettled, the clear phrase offers calm. It steadies faith and gives people a short way to speak hope when life presses hard.
Ancient trust meets modern struggle. Job’s honesty in suffering mirrors what students, families, and workers face. That link makes the confession a living testimony for daily wear.
Worship keeps the truth alive. Churches in Britain, America, and other places still use the hymn, and singing hands the words to new generations. Memory and song turn belief into action.
- Conviction builds courage against shifting headlines.
- Relational language comforts hearts with closeness, not distance.
- The promise points to a final standing on the earth and hope beyond trends.
As people share the sentence, faith spreads through conversation, prayer, and service. In grief and doubt, the short testimony brings life and purpose where despair once reigned.
I Know That My Redeemer Lives: The Heart of a Living Hope
A short confession can carry centuries of hope into a single heartbeat. That sentence gathers Job’s ancient witness, hymn tradition, and gospel promise into a quick, steady assurance for daily life.

From ancient words to present faith
Job’s go’el image is personal and vindicating. These words move from Scripture into worship, where simple lines embed theology in memory and action.
How this confession shapes soul, body, and life
The phrase trains the heart to trust and the mind to think true thoughts. Service follows belief as the body acts in compassion and courage.
- Relational center: the claim frames belonging to one who rescues and restores.
- Whole-person hope: care for soul and a future for the body amid earth’s trials.
- Resilient faith: assurance reframes pain without pretending it vanishes.
Grounded in Scripture and sung in congregations, these short words shape rhythms of prayer, work, and joy. The living promise of jesus christ sends hope from heaven into the week, so daily life echoes the song.
Job 19:25 in Focus: “For I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
A kinsman’s role in Israelite law becomes a vivid image of divine rescue here. Job 19:25 holds a legal and personal claim: a near-relative will act to vindicate and restore. Multiple translations confirm the force of this confession.
Go’el explained: the kinsman-redeemer who vindicates and restores
In Job’s world the go’el is a close relative who ransoms, defends, and restores property and honor. This term prepares readers to see God as one who acts like a faithful kin.
Earlier complaints in job show a man seeking a daysman and advocate. Here faith ripens into a firm assertion that a vindicator will come.
“At the last He will stand upon the earth”: justice, glory, and the end
The phrase images visible authority: the One who will stand upon the earth brings final justice and revealed glory. Whether translated as rise over the dust or stand at the last, the promise is steady.
Trust anchors timing: though thou shalt not see justice today, the end belongs to the One who stands and saves.
Seeing God beyond dust: Job 19:26-27 and resurrection hope
Job moves from dust and decay to embodied hope: after skin is destroyed, flesh will see God. This is not abstract comfort but promise of reunion.
- Legal rescue: go’el language signals real restoration.
- Visible vindication: standing on the earth means justice fulfilled.
- Resurrection hope: dust is not destiny; life is vindicated.
Scripture’s Infallible Witness to the Resurrection
Prophets, psalmists, and apostles form a continuous chorus about life beyond death. The Old Testament anticipates a waking from the dust, while the New Testament declares that promise fulfilled in jesus christ.
From Psalms and Prophets to Christ
Isaiah 26:19 and Daniel 12:2 speak plainly: God will raise the dead. These verses frame death as a pause, not the end.
Psalm 16:10 foretells no decay for the Holy One. That promise finds its fulfillment in Christ and secures our hope of redemption.
The gospel fulfilled: 1 Corinthians 15
Paul places the resurrection at the gospel’s center. Christ is the firstfruits; his rising proves sin is judged and death is defeated.
That victory promises renewal for every body and points toward final glory at the end.
Living promises for today
Jesus says, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). Hebrews adds that the living High Priest intercedes (Hebrews 7:25) and that the Lord is unchanging (Hebrews 13:8).
Our future transformation
Philippians 3:20-21 assures a transformed body like his glorious one. This is hope for every man and woman, here and on the earth to come.
- Gather the witnesses: prophets forecast rising life; apostles proclaim fulfillment in jesus christ.
- Read Isaiah, Daniel, and Psalm 16 as promise and pattern for resurrection.
- Stand in 1 Corinthians 15: the gospel proves death defeated and redemption secure.
Join the chorus: let Scripture move the heart from knowledge to faith, so the simple claim to know redeemer becomes a steady song of courage.
The Hymn We Sing: Samuel Medley’s “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
From Liverpool to the pulpit, a simple hymn stitched Job’s ancient hope into congregational prayer. Samuel Medley, a former Royal Navy sailor, wrote the text in 1775 while ministering in Liverpool. Those compact words gave worshipers a short, memorable claim about the living Redeemer.
1775 origins and the Duke Street tune
Medley’s name appears in hymn histories as the author of a 1775 text that pairs well with strong melody. John Hatton’s tune, known as “Duke Street,” gave the lines a sturdy shape. The tune helped people carry the words into homes and services across the earth.
Publication, transatlantic use, and later adoption
The hymn first appeared without attribution in George Whitefield’s Psalms and Hymns (1775). It spread through British and American churches and found new use in Emma Smith’s Collection of Sacred Hymns among Latter-day Saints.
- Meet the author: Medley turned suffering into song in 1775.
- Trace the tune: “Duke Street” made the refrain easy to sing.
- Celebrate longevity: congregations still confess know redeemer lives in worship.
He Lives: A Verse-by-Verse Journey Through the Hymn’s Lyrics
Each stanza of the hymn unfolds a compact gospel, moving from grave defeat to bright, daily hope. The lines press theology into memory so worship informs action and comfort.
Triumphant from the grave: salvation, life, and daily breath
“He lives … who once was dead” proclaims victory over death and grants new life to the faithful. This stanza anchors the song in resurrection hope and renewed breath for each day.
Prophet, Priest, and King: Christ’s threefold office
The hymn names the Lord Jesus Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King. Those roles teach guidance, sacrifice, and reigning care that steadies believers on the earth.
Comfort for tears, calm for troubled hearts
Lines like “He lives to wipe away my tears” offer pastoral assurance in loss and trial. Such words become a balm when sorrow presses close.
Preparing a mansion, bringing us safely there
Promises of heaven and a sure home make hope concrete. The refrain—know redeemer lives—repeats to train trust and steady service in daily life.
- Verse by verse: victory, help, offices, comfort, and hope.
- Refrain power: each know redeemer lives line deepens assurance.
- Practical fruit: courage to pray, serve, and persevere.
The Redeemer and the Redeemed: What “Lives” Means for Us
Confessing a risen Helper brings practical strength for ordinary needs and lasting purpose for the soul. This living claim does more than comfort; it changes how people live, pray, and care for one another.
From death to living hope: redemption that reaches the whole person
Redemption touches both soul and body. Because the Redeemer is alive, the promise covers present peace and a future, renewed body on earth and in heaven.
That hope renews purpose. It turns fear of loss into steady courage for daily work and family life.
Strength for time of need: guidance, supply, and testimony
The hymn says plainly: he helps in time of need and feeds a hungry soul. Those lines point to real provision and guidance when days are hard.
Families find practical help in prayer, shared meals, and faithful witness. As needs are met, hearts are steadied and others see a living testimony of care.
- Whole-person hope: soul renewed; body promised a future transformation.
- Present supply: guidance and help in moments of need.
- Everyday witness: family habits of prayer and song teach children to know the Redeemer by name.
Jesus Christ, Our Living Advocate and Friend
Christ’s ongoing advocacy gives the weary boldness to pray with hope today. His role is personal and practical: the believer is never alone before God. This truth shapes both private prayer and public testimony.
He pleads for us above: intercession and Hebrews 7:25
Hebrews 7:25 declares that the risen Savior always lives to make intercession. That means salvation is secured by a present, active plea on our behalf.
Rest in intercession: your Living Advocate pleads for you now, so assurance is not self-made—it is Christ-secured.
Unchanging Lord Jesus: Hebrews 13:8 and present confidence
Hebrews 13:8 anchors certainty: the Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This unchanging nature steadies the heart when circumstances shift.
Trust the unchanging Lord: his constancy gives plain assurance for daily choices and steady hope for the earth we walk.
- Receive daily mercy: his prayers for you are specific and compassionate, shaping testimony with quiet perseverance.
- Move from fear to faith: because he lives to intercede, bring burdens boldly, knowing help is near.
- Live relationally: the Lord Jesus Christ is Friend and King, close to the brokenhearted.
- Expect real change: intercession means real-time grace for decisions, healing, and service.
- Echo the confession: to know redeemer lives deepens prayer, fuels worship, and strengthens love for neighbor.
Resurrection and the Body: Imperishable Life
Christian faith promises a real renewal for the whole person. The hope is not escape from the body but its transformation into something imperishable and glorious.
Sown in weakness, raised in power: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
Paul teaches that what is sown dies, yet it rises changed. The mortal seed gives way to an imperishable form.
The new body will be powerful, glorious, and spiritual—fit for the presence of God and free from decay.
From mortal to immortal: the last trumpet and victory
At the trumpet’s sound the dead will be raised, and mortality will put on immortality. That day rewrites the meaning of death for the earth and its people.
- Clarify hope: resurrection renews, not rejects, the body.
- Picture the day: graves yield and weakness becomes strength.
- Tie to identity: Philippians 3:20-21 promises likeness to Christ’s glorious form.
- Live now: invest love and work on the earth as seeds for eternity.
Because Job 19:25 points beyond dust to a standing Advocate, this doctrine steadies weary hearts. Every limitation meets promised renewal, and every tear will be outlived by joy.
From Job to Today: Faith Under Trial in a Hurting World
In the raw space between loss and hope, a lived testimony offers a steady hand. Job’s suffering—loss of family, health, and status—frames a faith that looks beyond present pain toward ultimate vindication. Such trust speaks to modern homes and troubled streets alike.
When words fail and hearts ache: Scripture does not minimize pain. It magnifies the God who meets sorrow and walks through the valley with hurting people. This is practical hope for the world and for each family that must face death.
- Walk with Job: cling to the living Redeemer who knows and cares.
- Validate the ache: faith holds pain honestly while trusting future justice.
- Learn holy patience: trust grows with time even when answers tarry.
- Share testimony: stories from trials help others find footing amid loss.
- Keep showing up: simple faithfulness—prayer, worship, service—resists fear.
Hold fast to the refrain: to know redeemer lives is to endure with hope, to shape family prayer, and to bear witness today that grief is not the final word. Expect redemption’s fruit as character deepens and love expands through trial.
Assurance that Sings: How Worship Anchors Hope
When congregations sing, short lines become lifelong anchors for hope. A repeated refrain turns doctrine into a daily habit. Singing plants assurance deep where fear once grew.
The hymn’s simple words work like catechesis. Saying “He lives” in song trains memory. For many people, that refrain shapes how life faces loss and ordinary tasks.
Hebrews 13:8 assures the unchanging Lord Jesus, so worship today steadies faith tomorrow. Use short refrains at home, on the road, and at work to keep truth near the heart.
- Form habit: repetition makes confession an easy response in trial.
- Teach children: simple lines help young hearts hold fast.
- Witness in community: shared song turns private hope into public courage on the earth.
Let assurance overflow into kindness and resilience. As know redeemer lives becomes a rhythm, faithful service and compassion follow.
The Name Above All Names: Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ
Lift your eyes: the risen King bears a name above every other name. The hymn’s final cry echoes a truth found in Scripture: the Lord Jesus Christ remains unchanged.
Hebrews 13:8 anchors this claim. It tells readers the Son is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That constancy gives weary hearts a sure tower when life shifts.
Praise focuses on glory and steadiness. Singers say, “He lives, all glory to His name!” The line links worship with witness and sparks bold service across the earth.
- Lift your eyes to glory: the Lord reigns, worthy of every step.
- Praise his unchanging goodness: when things change, his name stands firm.
- Adore the Christ Redeemer: the living King is both near and mighty.
Treasure the truth you sing: hold Hebrews 13:8 close. Let worship fuel witness, so neighbors see grace and hear the refrain: know redeemer lives. Repeat it in prayer and song to guard hope. Know redeemer lives.
Scripture Threads: Cross-References That Illuminate “My Redeemer Lives”
A map of Scripture shows how early promises about dust and awakening find their fulfillment in Christ’s rising. Read passages together and a single story appears: promise, judgment, and renewed life.
Old to New: promises, fulfillment, and the story of redemption
Isaiah 26:19 and job 19:25 pair to lift eyes beyond graves toward God’s waking call. Both verses move from tomb silence to a sure stirring of life.
Hold Daniel 12:2 beside Psalm 16:10. One speaks of judgment and rising, the other denies decay for the Holy One. Together they point to a living Lord who undoes death.
Paul extends the promise. Romans 8:11 and 2 Corinthians 4:14 say the Spirit who raised Jesus will give life to mortal bodies. Creation waits for the full redemption of the earth on the final day.
- Weave the story: prophets promise life; Christ fulfills the hope.
- See themes of dust, standing on the earth, and the end converge in Scripture.
- Trace these verses and faith grows steady when trials blow.
Read the threads often. Let job 19:25, psalms, prophets, and Paul interpret one another so the church sings one Redeemer’s song and trusts the sure promise of bodily renewal.
Everyday Discipleship: Living as People of the Resurrection
Everyday choices can make resurrection hope visible in kitchen tables and church pews. Practical rhythms turn doctrine into steady action for family and congregation.
Hope-filled habits for families, churches, and communities
Practice hopeful routines. Start and end the day with prayer and a line of the hymn to anchor hearts. This trains children and adults to respond to stress with calm courage.
Shape family rhythms. Read a short resurrection promise at meals, invite questions, and celebrate small steps of growth. A regular pattern of worship and talk keeps faith near the center of home life.
- Serve your neighborhood: let mercy, justice, and hospitality show the gospel on the earth.
- Stay faithful over time: be steadfast and immovable in worship, Word, and fellowship as 1 Corinthians 15 urges.
- Make church a training ground: teach, sing, and serve together so every family member learns to live with hope.
Use the refrain—know redeemer lives—as a quick response to fear, a call to rest, and a marker of love. Measure discipleship by love shown; real fruit looks like compassion and shared life in a fragile world.
Testimony and Transformation: Proofs Written on Human Hearts
Ordinary days sometimes hold extraordinary turns when a heart meets grace. Small, lived stories form a chorus of proof: a freed habit, a mended relationship, a renewed purpose. These are not abstract claims. They are testimony in motion.
From dust to dignity: lives changed by the risen Christ
Read the living letters: changed lives remain the clearest proof of the risen Lord. Mercy in motion shows hope embodied and steady.
- Honor ordinary miracles: a reconciled family, a freed heart, a healed habit whisper that know redeemer lives.
- Let dignity rise: lowly people find new purpose and worth after encounter with grace.
- Share one clear story: name the year, place, and turning point so others see kindness in action.
- Connect testimony to mission: transformed hearts become trustworthy hands for neighbors on the earth.
- Remember redemption’s reach: identity is rebuilt, desires are renewed, and love is reordered toward true joy.
These proofs shape how a man and his household live. Keep short accounts, repeat the refrain—know redeemer lives—and let testimony fuel daily mission. Such witness presses faith into service and hope into long years.
Key Verses to Meditate On Today
A few key passages form a short guide for steady reflection. Use them to shape prayer, renew courage, and remind the heart of promise in trial.

Job 19:25–27
Job 19:25 holds a firm promise: a living vindicator will stand on the earth at the end. Let those lines steady you when dust and doubt press close.
John 14:19
John 14:19 gives present hope: because Christ lives, those who trust him will live. Keep this verse as a simple anchor for daily strength.
Philippians 3:20–21
Philippians 3:20 points to heavenly citizenship and a promised transformation of the body. Pray this truth to shape choices and courage in ordinary life.
1 Corinthians 15
1 Corinthians 15 answers despair with clear doctrine of resurrection. Read the chapter to see how victory over death rewrites fear into steadfast hope.
- Meditate on Job 19:25–27: let the promise of a standing Redeemer shape hope for the end.
- Hold John 14:19 close: his life secures yours for now and beyond.
- Pray Philippians 3:20–21: expect a changed body and heavenly identity.
- Study 1 Corinthians 15: let resurrection defeat death and steady daily faith.
- Speak these verses aloud so Scripture becomes peace in the bones and purpose in the steps.
Let these passages sing one chorus: living promise, transformed body, and final triumph on the earth.
Conclusion
Let the hymn’s final cry gather Scripture and song into a single sure note of praise. Read job 19:25, sing the short refrain—know redeemer lives—and let hope settle the anxious hearts of daily life.
Gather the gold: Scripture and the church’s song join to give clear assurance that the Redeemer will stand at the end. Keep the name on your lips: “He lives, all glory to His name” becomes the steady refrain you use at work, at home, and on the earth.
Carry truth into action. Read, sing, and share so each life shows resurrection courage, patience in suffering, and humble joy. Repeat know redeemer lives and rest in the promise—your future is bright and your song is strong.