1 Samuel 16:7

1 Samuel 16:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
• New International Version (NIV)But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Context of 1 Samuel 16:7

5And he said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is standing before Him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.” 9Next Jesse had Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.”

1 Samuel 16:7 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל אַל־תַּבֵּ֧ט אֶל־מַרְאֵ֛הוּ וְאֶל־גְּבֹ֥הַּ קוֹמָת֖וֹ כִּ֣י מְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּ כִּ֣י׀ לֹ֗א אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִרְאֶה֙ הָאָדָ֔ם כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ יִרְאֶ֣ה לַעֵינַ֔יִם וַיהוָ֖ה יִרְאֶ֥ה לַלֵּבָֽב׃Read the interlinear

• But the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
• Do not lookנָבַטnâbaţ · to lookH5027
• at his appearanceמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
• or at the heightגָּבֹהַּgâbôhha gâbôhha · highH1364
• of his statureקוֹמָהqômâh · heightH6967
• becauseכִּיkîy · forH3588
• I have rejectedמָאַסmâ'as · to rejectH3988
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• as manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• seesרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• the outwardעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• at the heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 16:7

• 1 Samuel 9:2He had a son whose name was Saul, a young and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome man than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
• 1 Samuel 10:23So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.
• 2 Samuel 14:25Now in all Israel there was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; from the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no impairment in him.
• Psalms 147:10He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
• Proverbs 31:30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
• Job 10:4Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as mankind sees?
• Isaiah 55:8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
• Luke 16:15And He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts; because that which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God.
• 1 Peter 2:4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
• 1 Peter 3:4but it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
• John 7:24Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
• 2 Corinthians 10:7You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so too are we.
• 1 Kings 8:39then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive and act, and give to each in accordance with all his ways, whose heart You know--for You alone know the hearts of all mankind--
• 1 Chronicles 28:9“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will have wars.”
• Psalms 7:9Please let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God puts hearts and minds to the test.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Man looketh on the outward appearance - And it is well he should, and confine his looks to that; for when he pretends to sound the heart, he usurps the prerogative of God. In what way were these communications made from God to Samuel? It must have been by direct inspirations into his heart. But what a state of holy familiarity does this argue between God and the prophet! I believe Moses himself was not more highly favored than Samuel.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-13Verses 6-13 It was strange that Samuel, who had been so disappointed in Saul, whose countenance and stature recommended him, should judge of another man by that rule. We can tell how men look, but God can tell what they are. He judges of men by the heart. We often form a mistaken judgment of characters; but the Lord values only the faith, fear, and love, which are planted in the heart, beyond human discernment. And God does not favour our children…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7his appearance or height: Like Saul, Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, looked impressive (see 1 Samuel 9:2). But like Saul, God rejected him (see 1 Samuel 15:23). God had chosen someone else to anoint as king. the LORD sees the heart: God can give a new heart (see 1 Samuel 10:9), touch hearts (see 10:26), and understand deep motivations (see Psalm 139:1). God sees what people cannot. God sees a person’s true character. Eliab’s character is revealed in 1 Samuel…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-106-10. Samuel said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him--Here Samuel, in consequence of taking his impressions from the external appearance, falls into the same error as formerly (1Sa 10:24). 1Sa 16:11-14. He Anoints David.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 16:7

• Church and State
• God Continued...
• Government
• Heart
• Jesse
• King
• Minister, Christian
• Secret

In the dictionaries

• Samuel
• Appearance
• Bethlehem
• Comely
• David
• Foreknow; Foreknowledge
• Jesse
• Omniscience
• Refuse
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings