Unkebuke by Israel Mbonyi: Lyrics and Biblical Song Review

The song Unkebuke by Israel Mbonyi is a deep and prayerful cry for renewal and transformation in God’s presence. It is a cry to God that He may cleanse, make us, and transform us that we may be able to dwell with Him, a cry for a yearning to be with Him. The title Unkebuke translates to “Revive me” or “Renew me” in English, reflecting the soul’s longing for divine cleansing and restoration.

Inspired by verses such as Psalm 51: 10–12, the song paints the picture of a believer who, despite personal weakness and sin, still desires to be made whole again in the arms of a merciful God.

Psalm 51:10–12
[10]Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

[11] Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

[12]Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Song lyrics

Did you know that you can play and listen to the song with English translations while you follow through the lyrics:

Verse 1

Uwiteka we,
(Oh Lord,)
Urondore umutima w’umugaragu wawe Mwami.
(Search the heart of Your servant, O my King.)
Umvugutire,
(Speak to me,)
Umpindure igikoresho gikwiye munzu yawe.
(Mold me, make me a vessel worthy in Your house.)
Kuko aho uri,
(For where You are,)
Ariho honyine nanjye nifuza kwibera.
(Is the only place I long to be .)

Chorus

Unkebuke Mwami, Mbone mu maso hawe,
(Revive me, Lord, that I may behold Your face.)
Wuzuze amavuta mu itabaza wampaye,
(Fill the lamp You gave me with fresh oil.)
Unsubizemo kunezezwa,
(Restore in me the joy,)
Kunezezwa n’agakiza.
(The joy of salvation.)

Verse 2

Umpe kuzinukwa,
(Teach me to despise,)
Ingeso zose za kamere, ndusheho kukwegera.
(All the ways of the flesh, that I may draw nearer to You.)
Unkubitire,
(Remove from me,)
Ibyaha byose bimpeza kure y’ubwiza bwawe.
(Every sin that distances me from Your glorious presence.)
Unkangurire,
(Awaken a desire in me,)
Gusa na Kristo mu ijambo no mu bingerageza.
(To be like Chirist in Your Word and in trials.)

Verse 3 (Solo)

Naho ibyaha byanjye byatukura cyane,
(Though my sins are crimson red,)
Ubasha rwose kubyeza byose.
(You are fully able to wash them away.)
Kandi nubwo njyewe ntagira shinge na rugero,
(Even when I have no worth,)
Warandimiye, Umpa andi mahirwe.
(You have redeemed me and given me another chance.)

Bridge

Umpindure igikoresho,
(Make me into a vessel,)
Gukoreshwa iby’umumaro.
(A vessel worthy of service to you.)
Unyeze kandi unyuzuze,
(Cleanse me and fill me,)
Kunezezwa, kunezezwa n’agakiza.
(With joy — the joy of salvation.)


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Song factsheet

Song review

Main themes

Unkebuke by Isarel Mbonyi highlights :

• Renewal of the Heart
• Repentance and cleansing
• Transformation
• Restoration of Joy and Purpose

Renewal of the Heart

The song opens with a plea for God to search and purify the heart of His servant.”Uwiteka we,(Oh Lord,)
Urondore umutima w’umugaragu wawe Mwami.(Search the heart of Your servant, O my King.)” — an echo of Psalm 139:23–24. It expresses a deep awareness of human frailty and the need for divine refinement.

 Psalm 139:23–24(KJV)

 [23]Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

[24]And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Repentance and Cleansing

The artist expresses a desire to have a change of ways by calling on God to remove anything that distances him from getting to fellowship with Him. Unkubitire,(Remove from me,)Ibyaha byose bimpeza kure y’ubwiza bwawe.
(Every sin that distances me from Your glorious presence.)This calls on Believers to check what is causing a rift between them and God and to desire to hand it over to Him. In the solo verse, believers are found remembering how their sins were crimson red that they were washed, and when we had not even acknowledged God in our lives, He redeemed us and gave us a chance. This encourages believers to reflect on the work that Jesus’ blood did for us.

Isaiah 1:18(KJV)

[18]Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

 Psalm 139:23–24(KJV)

 [23]Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

[24]And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Transformation

The desire to want to be used by God is expressed well as the artist expresses a desire to be molded in a want to be with Him .”Umpindure igikoresho gikwiye munzu yawe.(Mold me, make me a vessel worthy in Your house.) The brigde then comes to top it all off where believers are called to have this same desire a cry to God to shape us into vessel, Umpindure igikoresho,(Make me into a vessel,)Gukoreshwa iby’umumaro.(A vessel worthy of service to you.)
To want to see Him lifted in our lives and His puporses to be seen and know.

Romans 12:1(KJV)
[12]I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Ephesians 2:10(KJV)
[2]For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 Timothy 2:21(KJV)
[21] If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Restoration of Joy and Purpose

The repeated cry, “Unsubizemo kunezezwa n’agakiza” (Restore the joy of salvation), reminds believers that salvation is not just forgiveness — it’s the renewal of joy, peace, and divine fellowship.Wuzuze amavuta mu itabaza wampaye,(Fill the lamp You gave me with fresh oil.).Emphasis on being filled by God in any area of the believer’s life is expressed to show the desire for the believer ready for the master’s use calling onto believer’s to reflect if there christian walk is dry and should be refilled and to be wise virgins.

Psalms 51:12(KJV)
[12]Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Matthew 25:3-4(KJV) 
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them.

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Audience

This song speaks directly to believers who feel distant from God ,those yearning for a spiritual revival and renewal. It comforts the weary Christian, the repentant heart, and anyone longing for intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

Unkebuke is not just a worship song; it’s a personal altar call ,a moment to surrender your heart again and let God rekindle the flame of joy and faith within you.

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