There Is A Balm In Gilead
Encyclopedia
"There Is A Balm in Gilead" is a traditional United States
African American
spiritual
.
” is a reference from the Old Testament
, but the lyrics of this spiritual
refer to the New Testament
concept of salvation
through Jesus Christ. The Balm of Gilead is interpreted as a spiritual medicine that is able to heal Israel (and sinners in general). In the Old Testament, the balm of Gilead
is taken most directly from Jeremiah chapter 8 v. 22: "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wounds of my [God's] people?" (Another allusion can also be found in Jeremiah
chapter 46, v. 2 and 11: “This is the message (of the Lord) against the army of Pharaoh
Neco … Go up to Gilead and get balm
, O Virgin Daughter of Egypt, but you multiply remedies in vain; here is no healing for you” - see also Jeremiah chapter 22, v. 6.) http://www.negrospirituals.com/song.htm
The first appearance of the spiritual in something close to its current form is uncertain. A version of the refrain can be found in Washington Glass's 1854 hymn "The Sinner's Cure,"(see link below) where it is in 7s.6s.7s.6s rather than the Common Meter
of today's refrain. Glass attributed this hymn to himself, but like several of the hymns so attributed, it is substantially the work of another. He attached to one of John Newton
's Olney hymnshttp://www.ccel.org/ccel/newton/olneyhymns.h1_62.html of 1779 this refrain:
There is no mention of the balm of Gilead in Newton's poem, but it begins:
The similarities in the refrain make it likely that it was written for Newton's verse.
The 1925 7-shape Primitive Baptist songbook Harp of Ages has an unattributed song "Balm in Gilead" with a similar chorus, but verses drawn from a Charles Wesley
hymn, "Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee."http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/f/a/fatistre.htm
The second verse quoted below ("If you can't...") is also found in some versions of another well-known spiritual "(Walk That) Lonesome Valley." "Wandering verses," as they are often called, are quite common in the camp meeting and revival context, and were already found in by 1800 in the African-American community, as shown by Richard Allen's 1801 "A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs Selected from Various Authors."
Chorus (in bold):
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
Chorus (in bold):
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
spiritual
Spiritual (music)
Spirituals are religious songs which were created by enslaved African people in America.-Terminology and origin:...
.
History
This is a well-known traditional Black-American spiritual. The “balm in GileadBalsam of Mecca
Balsam of Mecca is a resinous gum of the tree Commiphora gileadensis , native to southern Arabia and also naturalized, in ancient and again in modern times, in ancient Judea/Palestine/Israel. The most famous site of balsam production in the region was the Jewish town of Ein Gedi...
” is a reference from the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, but the lyrics of this spiritual
Spiritual (music)
Spirituals are religious songs which were created by enslaved African people in America.-Terminology and origin:...
refer to the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
concept of salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
through Jesus Christ. The Balm of Gilead is interpreted as a spiritual medicine that is able to heal Israel (and sinners in general). In the Old Testament, the balm of Gilead
Gilead
In the Bible "Gilead" means hill of testimony or mound of witness, , a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is also referred to by the Aramaic name Yegar-Sahadutha, which carries the same meaning as the Hebrew . From its mountainous character...
is taken most directly from Jeremiah chapter 8 v. 22: "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wounds of my [God's] people?" (Another allusion can also be found in Jeremiah
Jeremiah
Jeremiah Hebrew：יִרְמְיָה , Modern Hebrew:Yirməyāhū, IPA: jirməˈjaːhu, Tiberian:Yirmĭyahu, Greek:Ἰερεμίας), meaning "Yahweh exalts", or called the "Weeping prophet" was one of the main prophets of the Hebrew Bible...
chapter 46, v. 2 and 11: “This is the message (of the Lord) against the army of Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Neco … Go up to Gilead and get balm
Balm
Balm can refer to:*Liniment, a topical medical preparation*Melissa , a plant genus, particularly the species commonly known as Lemon balm*Balm of Gilead, a medicinal resin from the North American species Populus candicans...
, O Virgin Daughter of Egypt, but you multiply remedies in vain; here is no healing for you” - see also Jeremiah chapter 22, v. 6.) http://www.negrospirituals.com/song.htm
The first appearance of the spiritual in something close to its current form is uncertain. A version of the refrain can be found in Washington Glass's 1854 hymn "The Sinner's Cure,"(see link below) where it is in 7s.6s.7s.6s rather than the Common Meter
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
of today's refrain. Glass attributed this hymn to himself, but like several of the hymns so attributed, it is substantially the work of another. He attached to one of John Newton
John Newton
John Henry Newton was a British sailor and Anglican clergyman. Starting his career on the sea at a young age, he became involved with the slave trade for a few years. After experiencing a religious conversion, he became a minister, hymn-writer, and later a prominent supporter of the abolition of...
's Olney hymnshttp://www.ccel.org/ccel/newton/olneyhymns.h1_62.html of 1779 this refrain:
- There is balm in Gilead,
- To make the wounded whole ;
- There's power enough in heaven,
- To cure a sin-sick soul.
There is no mention of the balm of Gilead in Newton's poem, but it begins:
- How lost was my condition
- Till JESUS made me whole!
- There is but one Physician
- Can cure a sin–sick soul.
The similarities in the refrain make it likely that it was written for Newton's verse.
The 1925 7-shape Primitive Baptist songbook Harp of Ages has an unattributed song "Balm in Gilead" with a similar chorus, but verses drawn from a Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley , and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley...
hymn, "Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee."http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/f/a/fatistre.htm
The second verse quoted below ("If you can't...") is also found in some versions of another well-known spiritual "(Walk That) Lonesome Valley." "Wandering verses," as they are often called, are quite common in the camp meeting and revival context, and were already found in by 1800 in the African-American community, as shown by Richard Allen's 1801 "A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs Selected from Various Authors."
Traditional Lyrics
Lyrics are as follows:Chorus (in bold):
- There is a balm in Gilead
- To make the wounded whole;
- There is a balm in Gilead
- To heal the sin-sick soul.
- Some times I feel discouraged,
- And think my work’s in vain,
- But then the Holy Spirit
- Revives my soul again.
(Chorus)
- If you can’t preach like Peter,
- If you can’t pray like Paul,
- Just tell the love of Jesus,
- And say He died for all.
(Chorus)
Alternate Lyrics
Lyrics are as follows:Chorus (in bold):
- There is a balm in Gilead, To make the wounded whole;
- There is a balm in Gilead, To heal the sin-sick soul.
- Some times I feel discouraged,
- And think my work’s in vain,
- But then the Holy Spirit
- Revives my hope again.
(Chorus)
- If you cannot sing like angels,
- If you can’t preach like Paul,
- You can tell the love of Jesus,
- And say He died for all.
(Chorus)
- Don't ever feel discouraged,
- 'Cause Jesus is your friend,
- And if you lack for knowledge,
- He'll never fail to lend.