Jesus Paid It All Elvina M. Hall, 1868
5 verses and a refrain, public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. I hear the Savior say,
Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in me thine all in all.
Refrain Jesus paid it all,
All to him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
Verse 2. Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power, and thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots,
And melt the heart of stone.
Verse 3. For nothing good have I
Whereby thy grace to claim—
I’ll wash my garment white
In the blood of Calvary’s Lamb.
Verse 4. When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
Then “Jesus paid it all”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.
Verse 5. And when before the throne
I stand in him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Sing the refrain after every verse.
Words copied from The Otterbein Hymnal (1892). They were published in 1868, 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 Jesus Paid It All
Elvina M. Hall wrote the words in Baltimore in the spring of 1865. Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology, quoted at Hymnary, says she wrote them on the fly-leaf of a copy of the New Lute of Zion in the choir of the Methodist Episcopal church there. The hymn's first line is I hear the Savior say, and Jesus paid it all is its refrain. Hymnary's tune page says she wrote them in the choir loft during a sermon.
John T. Grape, a Baltimore coal merchant who played the organ and led the choir at the same church, wrote the tune ALL TO CHRIST in 1868. Hymnary says the words and the music reached the pastor, George W. Schreck, at different times. He later saw that they fit together. Ira Sankey printed the hymn in Sacred Songs and Solos in 1878.
Hall was born in Alexandria, Virginia, according to Julian. Julian gives 1818 as her birth year, and Hymnary's own data field estimates 1820. She married Richard Hall and, in 1885, the Rev. Thomas Myers. She died in 1889.
Hymnals print the tune in several keys. Baptist Hymnal 1991 uses E flat major, and Baptist Hymnal 2008 uses D major. The African American Heritage Hymnal uses D flat major. Baptist Hymnal 1991 lists 1 Peter 2:24 as the Scripture reference.
Elvina M. Hall
1818 to 1889
Elvina Mable Hall was born in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1818 according to Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology, and Hymnary's data field estimates 1820. She died in 1889. She married Richard Hall and, in 1885, the Rev. Thomas Myers. Julian says she wrote I Hear the Savior Say on the fly-leaf of a copy of the New Lute of Zion in the choir of the Methodist Episcopal church in Baltimore in the spring of 1865. Ira Sankey printed it in Sacred Songs and Solos in 1878. John T. Grape wrote the tune.
John T. Grape
1835 to 1915
John Thomas Grape (1835 to 1915) was born in Baltimore and became a successful coal merchant. He belonged to Monument Street Methodist Church in Baltimore, where he played the organ, directed the choir and taught Sunday school. He later directed the choir at Hartford Avenue Methodist Church. Hymnary dates his tune ALL TO CHRIST to 1868 and says the pastor, George W. Schreck, received the tune and Elvina Hall's words at different times and later saw that they belonged together. Hymnals give his birth year as 1835 or 1833.
- Hymnary.org: ALL TO CHRIST (Grape) , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org: Elvina M. Hall , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org: Baptist Hymnal 1991, number 134 , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in Jesus Paid It All
The Bible passages behind the words.
- 1 Peter 2:24
Jesus Paid It All videos
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Jesus Paid It All (Hymn 281) - Hymnology (Official Video) Hymns of Grace, Congregation
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Jesus Paid It All Altar of Praise Chorale - Topic, Choir
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Jesus Paid It All Acapeldridge, A cappella
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Jesus Paid It All - piano hymn with lyrics Kaleb Brasee, Piano
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Jesus Paid It All | feat. Brooke Ligertwood | Gateway Worship Gateway Worship, 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.
Print and project
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in E♭, D or D♭.
Questions people ask
Who wrote Jesus Paid It All?
Elvina Hall wrote the words in Baltimore in 1865. John Grape wrote the tune in 1868.
What is the original version of Jesus Paid It All?
The hymn began as I hear the Savior say, and Jesus paid it all is the refrain. Hall wrote it on the fly-leaf of a hymn book in her church choir.
What key is Jesus Paid It All in?
Baptist Hymnal 1991 prints it in E flat major, and Baptist Hymnal 2008 prints it in D major. Hymnary lists several other hymnals in D flat major.
Is Jesus Paid It All in the public domain?
Yes. Hall wrote the words in 1865 and Grape's tune dates to 1868, so both are public domain in the United States. Newer worship versions that add lines or a chorus may be under copyright.
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