1 Samuel 16:7

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.

📖 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

• 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."

• 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.

• 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 Judge not according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
• Jer 17:10 : 10 I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his deeds.
• Luke 16:15 : 15 And he said to them, You are the ones who justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for what is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
• Isa 55:8-9 : 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• 1 Chr 28:9 : 9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
• 1 Kgs 8:39 : 39 Then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men;)
• 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 that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
• Prov 16:2 : 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the spirits.
• 1 Pet 3:4 : 4 But let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
• Prov 31:30 : 30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
• Jer 20:12 : 12 But, O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, and sees the reins and the heart, let me see your vengeance on them: for to you have I opened my cause.
• 1 Pet 2:4 : 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
• 1 Sam 10:23-24 : 23 And they ran and fetched him from there: and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, Long live the king.
• 2 Chr 16:9 : 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.
• Ps 7:9 : 9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
• Ps 139:2 : 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought from afar.
• Prov 15:11 : 11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD; how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men?
• Acts 1:24 : 24 And they prayed and said, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen
• 2 Cor 10:7 : 7 Do you look on things after the outward appearance? If anyone trusts that he is Christ's, let him think this again in himself, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
• 2 Cor 10:10 : 10 For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
• Heb 4:13 : 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
• Rev 2:23 : 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
• Job 10:4 : 4 Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as man sees?
• 2 Sam 14:25 : 25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
• 1 Sam 9:2 : 2 And he had a son named Saul, a chosen young man and goodly: there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
• Jer 11:20 : 20 But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have presented my case to you.