This page features the full On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand lyrics. Originally titled "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less," this timeless hymn was written by Edward Mote to declare the unwavering certainty of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. It uses the powerful biblical metaphor of Christ as a "solid rock" in contrast to all other "sinking sand."
On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand - Full Lyrics
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.
On Christ the Solid Rock - Hymn Details
| Author (Lyrics) | Edward Mote (c. 1834) |
| Composer (Music) | William B. Bradbury (1863) |
| Tune Name | SOLID ROCK |
| Genre | Hymn, Gospel |
The Story Behind "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand"
The inspiration for this hymn came to its author, Edward Mote, in 1834 while he was walking to his job as a cabinet maker in London. The words of the chorus, "On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand," entered his mind with such clarity that he wrote down the first four verses by the end of the day. Later that week, he visited a friend whose wife was near death. When the time came for family worship, they couldn't find a hymnbook. Mote reached into his pocket and offered the lyrics he had just composed. The hymn brought such profound comfort to the dying woman and her husband that Mote was compelled to have it printed and distributed, and its popularity quickly spread throughout England and beyond.
On Christ the Solid Rock - Meaning & Biblical Background
The central theme of this hymn is the absolute security of placing one's faith in Jesus Christ, as opposed to anything else—be it feelings, circumstances, or personal efforts. The powerful imagery of the "solid rock" versus "sinking sand" is a direct reference to Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-27, where the wise man builds his house on the rock (representing obedience to Jesus' words) and it withstands the storm.
Each verse explores a different facet of this security. Verse two, for instance, addresses times of spiritual darkness or doubt. The line "My anchor holds within the veil" is a rich theological statement, alluding to Hebrews 6:19, which describes our hope in Christ as "an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." It means our hope is not based on what we can see or feel, but is fastened to Christ Himself in the heavenly places. Verse three reinforces this by listing God's unbreakable promises—His oath, covenant, and the blood of Jesus—as the ultimate support during life's overwhelming floods.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV)
