Piano Demo
0:00
Hymnal Number
311Resource Type:
Keys included:
D
About this Hymn
Written in the earliest days of the Chautauqua Institution by two of its staff members and later expanded by a British organist, this has become a foundational hymn in approaching the word, the bread of life. The words come from a position of longing, to know Christ personally—like sitting at his feet when he broke the loaves and fish—and to be taught by the great Interpreter, the Spirit.
Lyrics
Verse 1
Break thou the bread of life,
dear Lord, to me,
as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
beyond the sacred page
I seek thee, Lord;
my spirit pants for thee,
O living Word.
Verse 2
Bless thou the truth,
dear Lord, to me, to me,
as thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;
then shall all bondage cease,
all fetters fall;
and I shall find my peace,
my all in all.
Verse 3
Thou art the bread of life,
O Lord, to me,
thy holy word the truth that saveth me;
give me to eat and live
with thee above;
teach me to love thy truth,
for thou art love.
Verse 4
Oh, send thy Spirit, Lord,
now unto me,
that he may touch my eyes, and make me see:
show me the truth concealed
within thy word,
and in thy book revealed
I see thee, Lord.
Break thou the bread of life,
dear Lord, to me,
as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
beyond the sacred page
I seek thee, Lord;
my spirit pants for thee,
O living Word.
Verse 2
Bless thou the truth,
dear Lord, to me, to me,
as thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;
then shall all bondage cease,
all fetters fall;
and I shall find my peace,
my all in all.
Verse 3
Thou art the bread of life,
O Lord, to me,
thy holy word the truth that saveth me;
give me to eat and live
with thee above;
teach me to love thy truth,
for thou art love.
Verse 4
Oh, send thy Spirit, Lord,
now unto me,
that he may touch my eyes, and make me see:
show me the truth concealed
within thy word,
and in thy book revealed
I see thee, Lord.
Copyrighted lyrics may be used in corporate worship in accordance with a valid CCLI license. Lyrics should be displayed unaltered and include author and copyright information. All other uses require permission from the copyright holder.
Attribution & Copyright
Words: Sts. 1–2, Mary A. Lathbury, 1877; sts. 3–4, Alexander Groves, 1904
Music: William F. Sherwin, 1877
Music: William F. Sherwin, 1877