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

5He replied, “Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” So he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab and said to himself, “Surely, here before the Lord stands his chosen king!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.” 9Then Jesse presented Shammah. But Samuel 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• But the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
• Lookנָבַטnâbaţ · to lookH5027
• not on his countenanceמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
• or on the heightגָּבֹהַּgâbôhha gâbôhha · highH1364
• of his statureקוֹמָהqômâh · heightH6967
• because I have refusedמָאַסmâ'as · to rejectH3988
• not as manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• seethרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• on the outward appearanceעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• on the heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 16:7

• 1 Samuel 9:2He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he was; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.
• 1 Samuel 10:23So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all.
• 2 Samuel 14:25Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance.
• Psalms 147:10He is not enamored with the strength of a horse, nor is he impressed by the warrior’s strong legs.
• Proverbs 31:30Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
• Job 10:4“Do you have eyes of flesh, or do you see as a human being sees?
• Isaiah 55:8“Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds,
• Luke 16:15But Jesus said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized among men is utterly detestable in God’s sight.
• 1 Peter 2:4So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God’s sight,
• 1 Peter 3:4but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
• John 7:24Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment.”
• 2 Corinthians 10:7You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.
• 1 Kings 8:39then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin, and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of his motives. (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.)
• 1 Chronicles 28:9“And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.
• Psalms 7:9May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

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