All the bitter weary ways
Endless striving day by day
You barely have the strength to pray
In the valley low
And how hard your fight has been
How deep the pain within
Wounds that no one else has seen
Hurts too much to show
And all the doubt you’re standing in between
And all the weight that brings you to your knees
He knows, He knows
Every hurt and every sting
He has walked the suffering
He knows, He knows
Let your burdens come undone
Lift your eyes up to the One who
knows
He knows
We may faint and we may sink
Feel the pain and near the brink
But the dark begins to shrink
When you find the One who knows
The chains of doubt that held you in between
One by one are starting to break free
Every time that you feel forsaken
Every time that you feel alone
He is near to the broken hearted
Every tear
He knows ...
He Knows
He Knows Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Jeremy Camp's song "He Knows" offers a profound message of comfort and understanding to listeners navigating life's many struggles. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the human condition marked by "bitter weary ways," "endless striving," and moments when one barely has the strength to pray, feeling stuck "in the valley low." It speaks to the internal battles and "deep the pain within," describing "wounds that no one else has seen," which are often too difficult or painful to reveal to others. The song acknowledges the weight of doubt and the burdens that can bring a person to their knees, capturing the isolating feeling of suffering in silence.
The central reassurance of the song is encapsulated in the powerful declaration, "He knows, He knows." This repeated phrase serves as an anchor, assuring the listener that every hurt, every sting, every struggle, and every unseen wound is fully known and understood by a higher power. The lyrics explicitly state, "He has walked the suffering," suggesting an empathy born not just from observation but from shared experience. This understanding serves as the foundation for the call to "Let your burdens come undone" and "Lift your eyes up to the One who knows," encouraging a release of heavy loads onto a being capable of bearing them. The video for the song was released on September 30, 2014, visually accompanying this message of divine awareness and comfort.
The song continues by exploring the resilience that comes from this realization. It acknowledges that people "may faint and we may sink," feeling pain and being "near the brink" of despair. However, it offers hope that "the dark begins to shrink when you find the One who knows." This suggests that acknowledging this divine understanding initiates a shift from darkness towards light. The "chains of doubt that held you in between" are depicted as starting to break free "one by one," indicating a gradual but certain liberation from the grip of uncertainty and fear when leaning into this truth.
The themes explored in "He Knows" resonate deeply with various biblical passages that speak to God's awareness of and compassion for human suffering. For instance, Psalm 34:18 states that "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit," mirroring the song's assertion that "He is near to the broken hearted" every time someone feels forsaken or alone. The concept of God understanding human weakness and suffering is also found in Hebrews 4:15, which describes Jesus as one "who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin," and thus able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Furthermore, the invitation to cast anxieties onto a caring God is a core message in 1 Peter 5:7, "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you," aligning with the song's call to let burdens come undone because "He knows."
Ultimately, "He Knows" serves as an inspirational anthem for those experiencing pain, doubt, or the feeling of being unseen. It validates the reality of suffering while offering a powerful reminder that isolation is not the final state. By emphasizing that every tear is known and understood, the song provides a sense of being fully seen and deeply cared for. It encourages listeners to find strength and solace in the knowledge that they are not alone in their trials and that there is a source of complete understanding and empathy available, leading towards healing and freedom from emotional burdens.