Elevation Worship – I Know A Name

Elevation Worship is a church-led band that was created in 2007.  They join Bethel Music and Hillsong as the “big three” that has the biggest reach in modern Christian music.  They released many albums and EP’s.

They also won nine awards, including two Billboard for Top Christian Artist (2021) and Top Christian Song (Graves into Gardens, 2021), and two GMA Dove awards for Spanish Language Album of the Year (Aleluya (En La Tierra), 2020) and Worship Recorded Song of the Year (The Blessing (Live), 2020).

Also, check out my other Elevation Worship reviews. 

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

It’s another list!  Jesus is:

• Ruler of the world
• Master over death
• Savior
• Worthy of worship
• Glorified
• I AM
• Powerful

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, Bridge and Refrain (2) are the worst offenders.  Though not nearly as repetitious as other songs I’ve reviewed.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

The entire song.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

I know a Name that can silence the roaring waves

That is, Jesus.  He silenced the waves in Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25.

I know a Name that can empty out a grave

This has three meanings:

1. He literally raises people from the dead (Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 7:11-17, Luke 8:40-56, and John 11:38-44).
2. He himself was resurrected (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
3. Christians who are dead in their lawbreaking have been emptied from the grave that they faced, raised from eternal damnation to life with Jesus (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

I know a Name, it’s the only Name that saves

As stated in John 14:6 and Acts 4:12.

And it’s worthy of all praise

Amen!  See 1 Chronicles 16:25, 2 Samuel 22:4, Psalm 96:4-5, Psalm 145:3, and Revelation 4:11.

[Chorus]

I call You, Jesus
I call You, I call You Healer

Jesus is a wonderful Physician (Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:31).

Risen and reigning in power
Something comes out of the grave

Risen and grave are covered in Verse 1, line 2.  Reigning in power is found in Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:10, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6, Luke 1:32-33, John 12:15, John 18:37, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Revelation 17:14, and Revelation 19:11-16.

Every time I call You, Jesus
I call You, I call You Savior

As stated in Isaiah 45:21-22, Hosea 13:4, Luke 1:47, Luke 2:11, Acts 13:23, 1 Timothy 2:3, Titus 2:13-14, and 1 John 4:14.

Worthy of glory forever

See Verse 1, line 4.

Something comes out of the grave
Every time I call Your Name

Repeats/essentially repeats lines 4 and 5.

[Verse 2]

I have a King with dominion over death
He holds the keys in His holy nail-scarred hands

The keys of hell in Jesus’ hand is found in Revelation 1:18.

He is the heel, yeah-eah
That has crushed the serpent’s head

References Genesis 3:15 as a prophecy of Jesus’ crushing Satan amid lethal injury.  Also contains “yes”.

Our resurrected Great I Am

Resurrection is covered in Verse 1, line 2.  Great I AM comes from Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58.

Come on

Let’s go!

[Refrain (1)]

Chains break, dry bones wake
Every time I call Your Name

References Acts 16:26 and Ezekiel 37, respectively.

The gates of Hell shake
Every time I call Your Name

That is, the gates of hell that will not prevail (Matthew 16:18).

Chains break, dry bones wake
Every time I call Your Name
The gates of Hell shake
Every time I call Your Name
Oh
Every time I call Your Name
Yeah, yeah-yeah
Mmm

Repeats lines 1-4, with fillers including the sounds of Casper the friendly ghost, “yes” several times, and enjoyment of food.

[Bridge]

Where, oh death, is now your sting?
And where, oh grave, your victory?

Quotes from 1 Corinthians 15:55.

Come on now

You know it makes me wanna shout!

Where, oh death, is now your sting?
And where, oh grave, your victory?
Yeah
Where, oh death, is now your sting?
And where, oh grave, your victory?
Yeah

Repeats lines 1 and 2, alongside the filler “yes” twice more.

[Refrain (2)]

Dead things come alive
Dead things come alive
Dead things come alive in the Name of Jesus

See Verse 1, line 2.

Dead things come alive (Dead things)
Dead things come alive
Dead things come alive in the Name of Jesus
Dead things come alive
Dead things come alive (Dead things come alive)
Dead things come alive
Dead things come alive in the Name of Jesus
Dead things come alive
Dead things come alive
Dead things come alive in the Name

Repeats/essentially repeats lines 1-3.

[Interlude]

Hey

Horse food.

So much power in the Name of Jesus

As stated in Mark 16:17, Luke 10:17, Acts 3:6, Acts 3:12-16, Acts 4:30, Romans 10:13, and Philippians 2:9-11.

So much power in the Name of Jesus

Repeats line 1.

Found my healing in the Name of Jesus
I was healed in the Name of Jesus

See Chorus, line 2.

Found my freedom in the Name, Jesus
Found my breakthrough in the Name, Jesus

That is, freedom from a former life of sin.  See commentary on Verse 1, line 2, specifically point #3.

Come on, sing

Let’s go sing!

[Outro: Brandon Lake, Choir, Brandon Lake & Chris Brown]

And I call You, Jesus
I call You, I call You Healer
Risen and reigning in power
Something comes out of the grave (Of the grave)
Every time I call You, Jesus
I call You, I call You Savior
Worthy of glory forever
Something comes out of the grave
Every time I call Your Name
Oh, yeah

All of this has been covered in previous lines, mostly in Chorus.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song is thick with Christianese language that so happens to be easily understood by unbelievers.  It is clearly about Jesus and how awesome He is to Christians.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

Rufus.  I mean Jesus.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Elevation Worship’s I Know A Name is all about Jesus.  He’s a miracle working, loving, savior whose power radiates throughout the whole world, accessible to those who are His.  These bring Him glory.  Unbelievers should easily interpret similarly.

This song is suitable for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: I Know A Name (listen to the song)

Artist: Elevation Worship

EP: EW 16

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2025

Duration: 7:09

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2025 Songs By That Dog Will Hunt (BMI) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com), Elevation Worship Publishing (BMI) / Brandon Lake Music (ASCAP) / Just When Publishing (SESAC) / So Essential Tunes (SESAC) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.