Are You Washed in the Blood?

Elisha Hoffman was born in 1839 in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, and spent his long life in faithful ministry as a Presbyterian pastor and hymn writer. Over the course of 90 years, he penned more than 2,000 hymns and compiled 50 songbooks, leaving a deep mark on the worship life of the Church. Those who knew his work observed that melody and message seemed to come to him together. When a truth settled in his heart, a tune often followed close behind, giving musical voice to the gospel convictions that shaped his ministry.

“Are You Washed in the Blood?” first appeared in the 1878 hymnal Spiritual Songs for Gospel Meetings and the Sunday School, which Hoffman co-edited. Though the hymn was included in only that one collection of his, it quickly spread beyond it. In 1881, Ira Sankey published the song in Sacred Songs and Solos, helping carry its searching question into revival meetings and congregations on both sides of the Atlantic. Even poet Vachel Lindsay later echoed its striking refrain in his poem about Salvation Army founder William Booth, a testament to how deeply the phrase had entered Christian thought and culture.

At its heart, the hymn is a clear gospel invitation. Each verse asks whether the listener has trusted in the cleansing power of Christ’s atoning blood and closes by urging a personal response to Jesus as Savior. Like Hoffman’s other well-loved hymns, including “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” “I Must Tell Jesus,” and “Down at the Cross,” this song reflects his steady commitment to biblical truth and heartfelt faith. Its enduring question continues to call believers and seekers alike to examine their standing before God and rest in the saving work of Christ.

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