I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - Printable Version

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I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - HelenaZF - 02-23-2007

"I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say"

This hymn has been referred to as one of the most ingenious in the English language. Each stanza divides equally between invitation and response.

For example, the first verse begins with the picture of a weary soul in search of rest from the burden of sin; but concludes with the heart's glad response to the Saviour's invitation to 'Come unto me.' A similar pattern is seen running through the remaining verses.

Despite his intimidating name and physical appearance, Horatius Bonar (1808-89) was a great lover of children and was concerned about how little the children understood of the metrical Psalms that were sung in the Scottish church of his day. "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" was one of the over 600 hymns he wrote to address the needs of the churches he served. Interestingly, John B. Dykes (composer of "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee") uses the somber key of G minor to present Jesus' invitation to our weary, thirsty and dark souls in the first half of each verse; in the second half of each verse when the invitation has been accepted and the soul satisfied, Dykes uses the happier key of G major. Take some time this month to read Jesus' invitations to you as recorded in the Gospels and reflect on your response to Him.


Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28; John 4:10, 13-14; John 8:12

(Tune Kingsford, set by Ralph Vaughn Williams)




I heard the voice of Jesus say, Come unto Me and rest,
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast.
I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one, stoop down, and drink, and live.
I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, I am this dark world's Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.
I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that light of life I'll walk, till traveling days are done.

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