Breathe on Me, Breath of God Lyrics Edwin Hatch, 1878
4 verses, sung to Aylesbury (S.M.), public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what thou dost love,
And do what thou wouldst do.
Verse 2. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with thee I will one will,
To do or to endure.
Verse 3. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly thine,
Till all this earthly part of me
Glows with thy fire divine.
Verse 4. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with thee the perfect life
Of thine eternity.
Words copied from New Baptist Hymnal (1926). They were published in 1878, so they are in the public domain in the United States, and your church may print them, show them and sing them without a license.
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The story behind Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Edwin Hatch was an English classicist and church historian. He studied at Pembroke College, Oxford, served a parish in the slums of east London, and taught classics at Trinity College in Quebec before returning to Oxford. Hymnary.org says he wrote this hymn for an ordination service. He first printed it privately in Between Doubt and Prayer in 1878. Henry Allon placed it in The Congregational Psalmist in 1886, and Hatch's widow included it in Towards Fields of Light in 1890, a year after his death. The prayer rests on the scene in John 20:22, where the risen Jesus breathes on his disciples and says to receive the Holy Spirit. The first stanza also draws on Ezekiel 36:27, and the opening phrase recalls Genesis 2:7. The Hebrew and Greek words for spirit also mean wind or breath, which is why the Spirit is called the breath of God. The tune most American churches use is TRENTHAM by Robert Jackson, composed in 1888 for another text. The United Methodist Hymnal says TRENTHAM suits the words because the text needs a tune that begins on a strong beat. Hymnary.org lists many other tunes for these words, including CARLISLE.
Edwin Hatch
1835 to 1889
Edwin Hatch was an English classicist and church historian. He studied at Pembroke College, Oxford, served a parish in the slums of east London, and taught classics at Trinity College in Quebec. He became rector of Quebec High School and then returned to Oxford as vice-principal of St. Mary Hall. He held the posts of Bampton Lecturer and Reader in Ecclesiastical History, and his Bampton Lectures on the organization of early Christian churches were translated into German. He wrote Breathe on Me, Breath of God, and his widow printed it again in 1890.
- Discipleship Ministries, History of Hymns, Breathe on Me, Breath of God , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Breathe on me, Breath of God , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Baptist Hymnal 1991 No. 241 , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in Breathe on Me, Breath of God
The Bible passages behind the words, with the verse of the hymn that draws on each.
- John 20:22 In verse 22 of the hymn
- Ezekiel 36:27 In verse 27 of the hymn
- Joel 2:28 In verse 28 of the hymn
- Genesis 2:7 In verse 7 of the hymn
Breathe on Me, Breath of God videos
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Breathe on me breath of God Northern Baptist Association , Congregation
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Breathe On Me Breath Of God by 250 voice Mass Choir for Classic Hymns album at Hyderabad Classic Hymns, Choir
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Breathe on Me Breath of God - Lyrics - Old Bible Hymns - a cappella The Wellman, A cappella
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Breathe on Me, Breath of God - piano instrumental hymn with lyrics Kaleb Brasee, Piano
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Breathe on Me Breath of God | Reawaken Hymns | Official Lyric Video Reawaken Hymns, Modern arrangement
Videos play from YouTube, and nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. A video may sing different verses from the ones printed on this page.
Downloads, printing and slides
Sheet music files
- Sheet music PDF 82 KB. Words and all four parts, ready to print.
- Lead sheet PDF 77 KB. Melody, words and chord symbols for piano or guitar.
- MusicXML score XML 39 KB. Opens in MuseScore, Finale, Sibelius and Dorico to change the key or print parts.
- MIDI, all parts MIDI 1 KB. Plays the four-part harmony in any MIDI player or notation app.
- MIDI, melody only MIDI 1 KB. The tune alone, for learning it.
Practice tracks for each voice part, as MIDI: Alto , Tenor , Bass .
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in F.
Questions people ask
Who wrote Breathe on Me, Breath of God?
Edwin Hatch, an English classicist and church historian, wrote it. He first printed it privately in 1878.
What Bible verse is Breathe on Me, Breath of God based on?
It rests on John 20:22, where Jesus breathes on his disciples. Hymnary.org also links the first stanza to Ezekiel 36:27 and Joel 2:28.
What tune is Breathe on Me, Breath of God sung to?
Most American churches sing TRENTHAM by Robert Jackson, composed in 1888. Hymnary.org also lists CARLISLE and other tunes.
Is Breathe on Me, Breath of God in the public domain?
The words are public domain in the United States. Hatch first printed them in 1878, and TRENTHAM dates from 1888.
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