It Is Not Death to Die

“It Is Not Death to Die” was written in 1832 by César Malan, a Swiss Reformed pastor and hymn writer known for his evangelical convictions and strong emphasis on personal faith in Christ. The hymn presents a distinctly Christian view of death, not as annihilation or despair, but as entrance into the presence of the Lord. Its tone is confident and triumphant, grounded in Scripture rather than sentiment.

The opening theme reflects Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (KJV). Malan frames death for the believer as gain, because it brings the soul into fuller fellowship with Christ. This does not deny the sorrow of separation for those left behind, but it shifts the focus to the eternal hope secured through redemption. Death loses its terror when Christ has removed its sting.

The hymn also draws from John 11:25-26, where Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” The believer’s confidence rests entirely upon the finished work of Christ. Eternal life is not achieved by human merit but granted through faith in the risen Savior. The hymn celebrates this assurance.

First Corinthians 15:54-57 proclaims, “Death is swallowed up in victory… O death, where is thy sting?” Malan’s text echoes this victorious tone. Death, once a fearful consequence of sin, has been transformed through Christ’s resurrection. For the redeemed, it becomes a passage into glory. The hymn emphasizes release from sin, sorrow, and earthly struggle, pointing to the joy of being with the Lord.

Second Corinthians 5:1-8 speaks of the earthly house of this tabernacle being dissolved and of believers being absent from the body and present with the Lord. Malan’s hymn reflects this longing for the heavenly dwelling. The hope is not vague or mystical, but anchored in the promise of eternal communion with God.

“It Is Not Death to Die” is often sung at funerals and memorial services, where it offers biblical comfort and assurance. Its theology is clear: death for the Christian is not defeat but transition, not loss but fulfillment. By centering hope on Christ’s victory over the grave, the hymn strengthens faith and directs hearts toward the eternal kingdom where sorrow and death are no more.