1 Samuel 16:7

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But the LORD told Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man sees; man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

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׃

Transliteration

And wə-yōʾmer Yəhwāh to Šəmûʾēl, "Do not tabbēṭ at his marʾēhû and at the gəbōah of his qômātô, for I have məʾastîhû. For not as yirʾeh hāʾādām, for hāʾādām yirʾeh to the lāʿênayim, but Yəhwāh yirʾeh to the lallēbāb."

Grammar Details

• *wə-yōʾmer*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *Yəhwāh*: proper noun, divine name - LORD/YHWH
• *Šəmûʾēl*: proper noun - Samuel
• *tabbēṭ*: Hiphil imperfect, 2nd masculine singular jussive - look at/regard
• *marʾēhû*: noun, masculine singular construct + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his appearance
• *gəbōah*: adjective, masculine singular - height/tallness
• *qômātô*: noun, feminine singular construct + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his stature
• *məʾastîhû*: Qal perfect, 1st singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - I have rejected him
• *yirʾeh*: Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he sees
• *hāʾādām*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - the man/human
• *lāʿênayim*: preposition + definite article + noun, feminine dual - to the eyes
• *lallēbāb*: preposition + definite article + noun, masculine singular - to the heart

Word Meanings

• *tabbēṭ*: look at/regard/consider
• *marʾēhû*: his appearance/his form/what is visible of him
• *gəbōah*: height/tallness/elevation
• *lallēbāb*: heart/mind/inner being

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But Jehovah{H3068} said{H559} unto Samuel,{H8050} Look{H5027} not on his countenance,{H4758} or on the height{H1364} of his stature;{H6967} because I have rejected{H3988} him: for [Jehovah seeth] not as man{H120} seeth;{H7200} for man{H120} looketh{H7200} on the outward appearance,{H5869} but Jehovah{H3068} looketh{H7200} on the heart.{H3824}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Samuel{H8050}, Look{H5027}{(H8686)} not on his countenance{H4758}, or on the height{H1364} of his stature{H6967}; because I have refused{H3988}{(H8804)} him: for the LORD seeth not as man{H120} seeth{H7200}{(H8799)}; for man{H120} looketh{H7200}{(H8799)} on the outward appearance{H5869}, but the LORD{H3068} looketh{H7200}{(H8799)} on the heart{H3824}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But ye LORDE sayde vnto Samuel: loke not vpon his countenaunce, ner vpon the tallnesse of his person, For I iudge not after the sighte of man. A man hath respecte vnto the thinge that is before his eyes, but the LORDE loketh vpon the hert.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But the Lord said vnto Samuel, Looke not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature, because I haue refused him: for God seeth not as man seeth: for ma looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord beholdeth the heart.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But the Lorde sayde vnto Samuel: Loke not on his fashion, or on ye height of his stature, because I haue refused him: For God seeth not as man seeth. For man loketh on the outward appearaunce, but the Lorde beholdeth the heart.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [Yahweh sees] not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Jehovah saith unto Samuel, `Look not unto his appearance, and unto the height of his stature, for I have rejected him; for `it is' not as man seeth -- for man looketh at the eyes, and Jehovah looketh at the heart.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [Yahweh sees] not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  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.”

Referenced Verses

• John 7:24 : 24 Do not judge by appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
• Jer 17:10 : 10 I, the LORD, search the heart and test the mind, to give each person according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.
• Luke 16:15 : 15 Jesus 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."
• Isa 55:8-9 : 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
• 1 Chr 28:9 : 9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
• 1 Kgs 8:39 : 39 then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. Forgive and act, and give to each one according to all they do, since You know their hearts (for You alone know every human heart),
• Ps 147:10-11 : 10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love.
• Prov 16:2 : 2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
• 1 Pet 3:4 : 4 Instead, it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
• Prov 31:30 : 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
• Jer 20:12 : 12 O LORD of Hosts, you who test the righteous and see the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for I have presented my case to you.
• 1 Pet 2:4 : 4 As you come to Him, the living Stone—rejected by people but chosen and precious to God—
• 1 Sam 10:23-24 : 23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people, he was taller than any of them from his shoulders upward. 24 Samuel said to the people, 'Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.' Then the people shouted, 'Long live the king!'
• 2 Chr 16:9 : 9 For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, you will face wars.
• Ps 7:9 : 9 The Lord will judge the peoples. Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.
• Ps 139:2 : 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
• Prov 15:11 : 11 Death and destruction lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of humans!
• Acts 1:24 : 24 Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show us which of these two you have chosen.
• 2 Cor 10:7 : 7 Do you look only at outward appearances? If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, let him consider again that just as he belongs to Christ, so also do we.
• 2 Cor 10:10 : 10 For some say, 'His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speech is contemptible.'
• Heb 4:13 : 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.
• Rev 2:23 : 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
• Job 10:4 : 4 Do You have eyes of flesh? Do You see as a mortal sees?
• 2 Sam 14:25 : 25 In all of Israel, there was no man as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him.
• 1 Sam 9:2 : 2 He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites as handsome as he was; he stood a head taller than anyone else.
• Jer 11:20 : 20 But, LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously and tests the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have presented my case to you.