You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

It Passeth Knowledge

It passeth knowledge, that dear love of Thine

Author: Mary Shekleton
Tune: [It passeth knowledge, that dear love of Thine]
Published in 38 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 It passes knowledge, that dear love of thine,
my Saviour Jesus; yet this soul of mine
would of thy love, in all its breadth and length,
its height and depth and everlasting strength,
know more and more.

2 It passes telling, that dear love of thine,
my Saviour Jesus; yet these lips of mine
would fain proclaim to sinners far and near
a love which can remove all guilty fear
and love beget.

3 It passes praises, that dear love of thine,
my Saviour Jesus; yet this heart of mine
would sing a love, so full, so rich, so free,
Which brings a rebel sinner, such as me,
nigh unto God.

4 At last, when Jesus face to face I see,
when at his lofty throne I bow the knee,
then of his love, in all its breadth and length,
its height and depth, its everlasting strength,
my soul shall sing.

Source: Together in Song: Australian hymn book II #230

Author: Mary Shekleton

Shekleton, Mary, was born in 1827, and died in Dublin, Sep. 28, 1883. She was for many years an invalid, during which time she wrote several hymns, which were printed in broadsheet form. Several of these are given in Chosen, Chastened, Crowned. Memorials of Mary Shekleton, late Secretary of the Invalid's Prayer Union, by her Sister, 1884, and are in common use:-(l) "It passeth knowledge, that dear love of Thine" (Love of Jesus), 1863; and (2), "One fervent wish, my God! it speaks the whole" (Desiring to know Jesus), 1867. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)  Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: It passeth knowledge, that dear love of Thine
Title: It Passeth Knowledge
Author: Mary Shekleton
Meter: 10.10.10.10.4
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Hymnary Pro Subscribers
Access an additional article on the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology:
Hymnary Pro subscribers have full access to the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Get Hymnary Pro

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #3117
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 10 of 10)
Page Scan

Complete Mission Praise #349

Favourite Hymns of the Church #135

Hymns and Psalms #526

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #471a

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #471b

Praise! psalms hymns and songs for Christian worship #727

Redemption Hymnal #77

The Believers Hymn Book #101

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #3117

Text

Together in Song #230

Include 28 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.