1 Samuel 16:7 Text
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.
World English Bible (WEB)
But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”
What 1 Samuel 16:7 Means
God is speaking to Samuel, who is looking for Israel's next king and assumes the tallest, strongest-looking son of Jesse must be the one. The verse corrects that habit of judging by appearance. The Hebrew word for heart covers a person's inner life, including thoughts, motives, and character, so the contrast is between what can be seen from outside and what lies underneath. Nothing here says that looks or ability are bad or that God ignores them. The point is that they are poor evidence of what a person is really like, and that God's evaluation goes deeper than ours. It is often quoted to comfort people who feel overlooked, which fits the story, since David was the youngest son and was left out in the field when Samuel arrived. It is also a caution to anyone tempted to size others up quickly.
Context of 1 Samuel 16:7
First Samuel is anonymous, though tradition connects it with the prophet Samuel and later writers. Israel's first king, Saul, has been rejected for disobedience. God sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a replacement from the household of Jesse, and Samuel is afraid Saul will kill him for it. Jesse parades seven sons past him, and none is chosen, until the youngest, David, is brought in from tending sheep. To read the whole book, see random verse from 1 Samuel.
How to Apply 1 Samuel 16:7
Notice the quick judgments you make about people from their appearance, job, or confidence, and hold them loosely this week. The same applies to yourself. If you feel unimpressive, this verse does not promise fame, but it does say your inner life matters and is seen. Pay as much attention to character as to image.
Related Verses
- Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
- Proverbs 21:2 – Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
- Jeremiah 17:10 – I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
- John 7:24 – Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Wisdom, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the LORD looks on the heart mean?
It means God evaluates people by their inner life, including motives, character, and loyalty, and not by outward qualities like looks or status. It does not say outward things are unimportant, only that they are unreliable measures of a person.
Why did God reject Eliab in 1 Samuel 16?
The text says God told Samuel not to rely on Eliab's height and appearance, and that he had refused him, without giving details. Readers usually infer that God saw something in Eliab's heart that made him unsuitable for kingship, though the passage does not spell it out.
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