About the Hymn
Lyrics: William Cowper (1772)
William Cowper was an English poet and hymn writer whose works have encouraged Christians for generations. He wrote There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood in 1772, drawing its imagery from Zechariah 13:1 and the New Testament’s teaching about the saving power of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice.
The hymn has remained one of the best-known hymns about Christ’s atoning death, encouraging generations of believers to place their confidence in His finished work and rejoice in the redeeming love of Christ.
Hymn Lyrics
Verse 1
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
Verse 2
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.
Wash all my sins away,
Wash all my sins away;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.
Verse 3
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more,
Be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.
Verse 4
Ever since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
Verse-by-Verse Meaning
Verse 1 — The Fountain of Cleansing
The hymn begins with a powerful picture of the salvation Jesus Christ accomplished through His death on the cross.
“There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;”
The “fountain” is a picture of the cleansing power of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death. His blood, shed on the cross, is sufficient to forgive the sins of everyone who trusts in Him. The name “Immanuel” means “God with us”, reminding believers that God Himself came into the world to save sinners.
“And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.”
The hymn does not teach that Christ’s physical blood washes away sin. Instead, it points to the complete forgiveness that Jesus purchased through His sacrifice. Everyone who places their faith in Him is forgiven, cleansed from the guilt of sin, and made right with God.
Verse 2 — Forgiveness for Every Sinner
The “dying thief” refers to the criminal who was crucified beside Jesus. Though he had lived a sinful life, he trusted in Christ before he died and received the promise of eternal life. His salvation shows that God’s grace is available even to those who seem beyond hope.
“And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.”
No sinner is beyond God’s grace. Anyone who comes to Jesus Christ in faith can receive complete forgiveness.
Salvation is not based on how good we are, but on God’s grace through Jesus Christ. No one is beyond His power to save.
Verse 3 — The Lasting Power of Christ’s Sacrifice
Jesus is described as the “Lamb”, reminding believers that He willingly gave His life as the perfect sacrifice for sin. His precious blood will never lose its power because His sacrifice is complete and forever sufficient to save everyone who trusts in Him.
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.
The “ransomed Church of God” refers to all believers who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ. One day, God’s work of salvation will be complete, and His people will be with Him forever, free from both the penalty and the presence of sin.
This verse reminds believers that Christ’s sacrifice is perfect and everlasting. Everyone who belongs to Him can have complete confidence in His saving work.
Verse 4 — A Life of Grateful Praise
The words “by faith” tell us that salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ. The “stream” refers to the cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice. Through faith, William Cowper came to believe that Jesus died for his sins and received Him as his Saviour.
“Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.”
After experiencing God’s saving grace, Cowper devoted his life to praising God’s redeeming love. He desired to continue speaking, singing, and rejoicing in God’s salvation for the rest of his life.
This verse encourages believers to keep their hearts and minds centred on God’s redeeming love. Having received such a great salvation, we should never grow tired of praising the One who gave His life for us.
Key Bible Verses
Bible Translation: English Standard Version (ESV)
Zechariah 13:1
On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.
Hebrews 9:13–14
For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Luke 23:39–43
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Revelation 21:2–4
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.”
Colossians 3:14–17
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Personal Reflection
- Have you personally trusted in Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and make you right with God?
- When you struggle with guilt or failure, do you continue to trust in the complete and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ?
- How does the promise of being with God forever encourage you as you face the difficulties of this life?
- Can you honestly say that Christ’s redeeming love is one of the main themes of your life? If not, what might need to change?
