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.
• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Context of 1 Samuel 16:7

5Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 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.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.”

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 9:2Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.
• 1 Samuel 10:23They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others.
• 2 Samuel 14:25In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.
• Psalms 147:10His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
• Proverbs 31:30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
• Job 10:4Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as a mortal sees?
• Isaiah 55:8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
• Luke 16:15He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
• 1 Peter 2:4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
• 1 Peter 3:4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
• John 7:24Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
• 2 Corinthians 10:7You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.
• 1 Kings 8:39then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know every human heart),
• 1 Chronicles 28:9“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
• Psalms 7:9Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.

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