1 Samuel 16:7
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.
Study Note
Study Note
God's correction of Samuel's assessment of Eliab — 'the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart' — is one of the Hebrew Bible's most foundational statements about the contrast between divine and human epistemology. The context makes the rebuke doubly pointed: Samuel the prophet — whose vocation is to see with divine rather than human eyes — has repeated Saul's mistake (1 Samuel 9:2: Saul chosen partly for his impressive appearance). The Hebrew 'mar'eh' (outward appearance) versus 'levavot' (hearts) sets up the contrast that runs through the entire David narrative: David's inward faithfulness (a man after God's own heart, 13:14) over against external credentials. New Testament applications are abundant: 1 Corinthians 4:5 ('the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will manifest the counsels of the hearts') and John 7:24 ('judge not according to the appearance').
Other Translations
But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.
And Jehovah saith unto Samuel, `Look not unto his appearance, and unto the height of his stature, for I have rejected him; for <FI>it is<Fi> not as man seeth--for man looketh at the eyes, and Jehovah looketh at the heart.'
But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not take note of his face or how tall he is, because I will not have him: for the Lord's view is not man's; man takes note of the outer form, but the Lord sees the heart.
Cross References
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts …
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of …
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy …
I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and …
But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance …
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and …
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth …
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto …