Summary
It is well with my soul bible verse
It is well with my soul bible verse
The exact phrase “It is well with my soul” is the title of a famous hymn by Horatio Spafford. It is derived from 2 Kings 4:26, where the Shunammite woman says, “It is well.” The verses below represent the direct source text and the theological parallels regarding peace of soul.
Part 1: The Scriptural Foundation – 45 Bible Verses on Soul Rest and Peace
2 Kings 4:26 “Run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ And she answered, ‘It is well.’”
Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”
Psalm 62:1 “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.”
Psalm 62:5 “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
Psalm 103:1 “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
Psalm 103:2 “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:11-12 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Isaiah 66:12 “For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream.'”
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 42:11 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 116:7 “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”
Psalm 131:2 “But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.”
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:6 “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
Hebrews 4:9-10 “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his
Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalm 29:11 “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Isaiah 30:15 “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”
Isaiah 32:17 “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”
Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”
Isaiah 48:18 “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.”
Lamentations 3:24 “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'”
Mark 4:39 “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.”
2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
Job 34:29 “But if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over man and nation alike.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud… yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Psalm 16:8 “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”
Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Part 2: Expert FAQ – “It Is Well With My Soul”
Origins and Authenticity
1. Is “It is well with my soul” a Bible verse? No, the exact phrase “It is well with my soul” is not a Bible verse. It is the chorus of a famous hymn written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. However, the phrase is derived from the biblical text of 2 Kings 4:26.
2. What Bible verse says “It is well”? 2 Kings 4:26 contains the phrase. When the Shunammite woman’s son died, Elisha the prophet sent his servant to ask her, “Is it well with the child?” and she answered, “It is well” (Shalom).
3. Who wrote “It is well with my soul”? The lyrics were written by Horatio G. Spafford, a devout Christian lawyer from Chicago. The music (tune name: Ville du Havre) was composed by Philip P. Bliss.
4. What is the story behind “It is well with my soul”? Horatio Spafford wrote the hymn after suffering immense tragedy. He lost his fortune in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Two years later, his four daughters drowned in a shipwreck across the Atlantic. Spafford wrote the lyrics while his own ship passed over the spot where his daughters died, expressing trust in God despite his grief.
5. What does the Shunammite woman mean by “It is well”? In 2 Kings 4, her son had just died. By saying “It is well” (Shalom), she was not denying the tragedy but expressing a profound faith that God (through the prophet Elisha) had the power to resolve the situation. It was a declaration of faith in God’s sovereignty over death.
Theological Meaning
6. What does it mean for it to be “well with your soul”? It means possessing a deep, internal peace given by God that is independent of external circumstances. It signifies that one’s eternal destiny is secure in Christ and that one trusts God’s sovereignty even in suffering.
7. How does Psalm 46 relate to this phrase? Psalm 46 (“Be still and know that I am God”) mirrors the sentiment of Spafford’s hymn. Both texts emphasize that even when the “mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (tragedy strikes), the soul can remain calm because God is a refuge.
8. What is the “peace like a river” mentioned in the song? This is a direct reference to Isaiah 66:12 (“I will extend peace to her like a river”) and Isaiah 48:18. A river represents a continuous, flowing, and abundant supply of peace that originates from God.
9. Can a Christian be sad and still say “It is well”? Yes. Biblical peace (Shalom) is not the absence of sadness, but the presence of God. Jesus wept (John 11:35) yet remained in perfect communion with the Father. One can grieve deeply while their soul remains anchored in hope.
10. How does the resurrection relate to this phrase? The hymn and biblical theology both point to the “Blessed Hope.” It is well with the soul because death is not the end. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 reminds believers that we do not grieve as those who have no hope.
Practical Application
11. How do I find peace when my life is falling apart? The Bible prescribes prayer and thanksgiving as the pathway to peace. Philippians 4:6-7 teaches that presenting requests to God allows His peace to “guard” the heart and mind.
12. What is a good Bible verse for a tattoo about peace? Psalm 46:10 (“Be still”) or 2 Kings 4:26 (“It is well”) are popular choices. John 14:27 (“Peace I leave with you”) is also significant.
13. What verse helps with soul exhaustion? Matthew 11:28-29 is the best prescription: “Come to me… and you will find rest for your souls.” It teaches that soul rest comes from yoking oneself to Jesus.
14. Why is “It is well with my soul” sung at funerals? It is a declaration of the Gospel. It affirms that because Christ has paid for sin (“not in part, but the whole”) and conquered death, the deceased is safe with God, and the mourner can find peace.
15. What is the Hebrew word for “It is well”? The word is Shalom. It is a rich word meaning peace, wholeness, completeness, welfare, and restoration. It is more than just “okay”; it means everything is as it should be in God’s hands.
16. How can I teach my children to have peace? Teach them Psalm 23 and Psalm 4:8 (“In peace I will lie down and sleep”). Teach them that God is a Shepherd who watches over them.
17. Is “It is well” a form of denial? No, it is an assertion of a higher reality. The Shunammite woman knew her son was dead (reality), but she also knew God’s power was greater (higher reality). Faith acknowledges facts but trusts Truth.
18. What does “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought” mean? This line from the hymn reflects the doctrine of Atonement. The wellness of the soul is primarily rooted in the fact that sin is fully forgiven (“nailed to the cross”) and the believer is no longer under condemnation (Romans 8:1).
19. What is the connection between the sea and sorrow in the Bible? The sea often represents chaos, danger, and death in ancient Near Eastern thought (Psalm 46:2, Revelation 21:1). God overcoming the sea (or walking on it) symbolizes His mastery over chaos and sorrow.
20. Can I say “It is well” if I have anxiety? Yes. “It is well” is a statement of faith, not necessarily a statement of feeling. You can declare God’s truth over your anxiety. Psalm 94:19 says, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Search Trends
21. Why is this phrase trending on social media? It resonates with the modern desire for mental health, mindfulness, and spiritual grounding amidst a chaotic news cycle. It is often used as a mantra for resilience.
22. Are there other songs based on this phrase? Yes, the contemporary worship band Bethel Music released a song titled “It Is Well” (Kristene DiMarco), which reinterprets Spafford’s hymn for a modern audience, boosting search volume for the phrase.
23. What Psalm restores the soul? Psalm 23:3: “He restores my soul.” This is the most direct biblical reference to soul restoration.
24. What does “Bless the Lord, O my soul” mean? Found in Psalm 103:1, it is a command to oneself. David is commanding his own inner being (mind, will, emotions) to focus on God’s goodness rather than his own troubles.
25. Is there a devotional about “It is well”? Many devotionals focus on this theme. It centers on the theology of sovereignty—that because God is on the throne, the believer can be at rest regardless of the storm.
