BLESSED BE THE NAME

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 1888

📜 Origins and Background


“Blessed Be the Name” is a beloved 19th‑century Christian hymn that became especially popular in camp meetings, revivals, and evangelical hymnals across American Protestant churches.


✍️ Text Author


The verses were written by William H. Clark (1854–1925), a Free Methodist pastor and later bishop.


Clark composed the text in 1888, expressing joyful praise to God and honoring the name of Jesus as supreme and worthy of worship.


🎶 Music and Refrain


The famous refrain (“Blessed be the name…”) and the tune are attributed to Ralph E. Hudson (1843–1901), an American gospel song composer.


Hudson’s refrain and melody gave the hymn its lively, singable character, helping it spread widely in camp meetings and revival gatherings.


📚 Publication


Clark’s text, paired with Hudson’s refrain and music, was copyrighted in 1888 and first appeared in the hymnal Hymns of the Christian’s Life (1891).


📖 Biblical Inspiration


The hymn’s central theme — exalting and praising the name of the Lord — echoes Bible passages such as Job 1:21 (“…blessed be the name of the Lord”) and Psalm 113:2 (“Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore”).


🎶 Musical and Cultural Influence


The refrain’s repetitive structure and spirited tune helped the hymn become a staple in evangelical and gospel song traditions throughout the 20th century.


It has been included in many hymnals and songbooks used across denominations, especially within Baptist, Methodist, and other Protestant contexts.


🎼 Theme and Meaning


The hymn repeatedly focuses on:


Praising God for the gift of Jesus Christ.


Recognizing Christ’s name as “above all names.”


Proclaiming joy, salvation, and eternal hope through Christ.


Encouraging believers to continually bless and exalt the name of the Lord.


🆚 Note on Similar Titles


There are other Christian songs with similar titles (e.g., the modern worship song “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt & Beth Redman, 2002), but these are distinct in style and origin from this traditional hymn.

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