Lyrics - Man of Sorrows! What a Name

(Hallelujah! What a Savior)

Man of sorrows, what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude
In my place condemned He stood
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Guilty, vile and helpless, we
Spotless Lamb of God was He
Full redemption—can it be?
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die
“It is finished” was His cry
Now in heav’n exalted high
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King
To His Kingdom us to bring
Then anew this song we’ll sing
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bible Memory Verses

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

-  Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)

Story Behind the Song

Philip P. Bliss was born in Pennsylvania in 1838. He was a gifted musician and hymn writer and later evangelist. He was good friends with the well known evangelist DL Moody. He would sing at some of his meetings. One of the last hymns Bliss ever sang was his hymn ‘Man of Sorrows.’

Soon after, while only in his late thirties, he and his wife were killed in a train crash — the Ashtabula River Railroad disaster. The manuscript for another hymn ‘I Will Sing of My Redeemer’ was found in his trunk having survived the crash and fire. 

Bliss was inspired by Isaiah 53 as he wrote about the ‘man of sorrows.’

‘Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;’

The whole lyric marvels at this extraordinary truth — God would take on Himself through Christ all our griefs and sorrows. 

Something to Think About

At our very first Sing Conference, Joni Eareckson Tada led the whole congregation in the a cappella singing of this hymn. It was an incredible moment! She told the story of a friend who helped her better understand the comfort of Christ, who shares in our suffering. As a quadriplegic for over 50 years, Joni knows so well the only Savior who would or could bear wounds that bring healing to us — body, mind, and soul.

Hallelujah, the word at the end of each verse in the hymn, is a Hebrew expression of praise. It means ‘praise Yahweh’, the holy name of God. It points to Him as the One who has been and will always be, the true eternal God, and the One who saves His people. The name Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’

While Hallelujah is mentioned many times in the Old Testament, it is only found in the final book of the New Testament — the book of Revelation. This book describes the time to come when all His people are gathered together before Christ’s throne, and all things have been made right, and suffering and death are destroyed forever.

This is where the great story of salvation will bring us, and where the last verse of the hymn brings us, too. And there will only be one expression great enough to sing — ‘Hallelujah’ to our Savior. We rehearse that song while we wait!

‘Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory…”’

(Revelation 19)

Prayer

Father in Heaven,

We thank you that you are writing a glorious story of salvation across all of history. One day our voices will sing in fullest harmony and joy when we see Christ return. Until then may our voices keep pointing to you, may the ‘lower lights’ of our lives keep burning and sharing your gospel. 

Fill us with your comfort and hope and wisdom in every struggle we face and in every anxious thought we may have for this new year. 

In the name of our wonderful Savior we pray,

Amen

Teach your children to praise God with heart and voice! Click here to learn more about Kristyn Getty’s new book, We Sing!

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