1 Samuel 16:7 BSB — MannaFest

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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.

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.

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Commentary

3 voices

Gregory of Nazianzus

ON HOLY BAPTISM, ORATION 40.26 (390)

Do not say, "I do not mind a mere priest, if he is a celibate, and a religious [person], and of angelic life; for it would be a sad thing for me to be defiled even in the moment of my cleansing." Do not ask for credentials of the preacher or the baptizer. For another is his judge and the examiner of what you can't see. For humans look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Man 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.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

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).

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

25 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	vai.Yo.mer	and he said	H559 →
יְהוָ֜ה	Yah.weh	Yahweh	H3068 →
אֶל־	'el-	to	H413 →
שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל	she.mu.'El	Samuel	H8050 →
אַל־	'al-	may not	H408 →
תַּבֵּ֧ט	ta.Bet	you look	H5027 →
אֶל־	'el-	to	H413 →
מַרְאֵ֛הוּ	mar.'E.hu	appearance his	H4758 →
וְאֶל־	ve.'el-	and to	H413 →
גְּבֹ֥הַּ	ge.Vo.ah	[the] height of	H1364 →
קוֹמָת֖וֹ	ko.ma.To	stature his	H6967 →
כִּ֣י	ki	for	H3588 →
מְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּ	me.'as.Ti.hu	I have rejected him	H3988 →
כִּ֣י׀	ki	for	H3588 →
לֹ֗א	Lo'	not	H3808 →
אֲשֶׁ֤ר	'a.Sher	[that] which	H834 →
יִרְאֶה֙	yir.'Eh	he sees	H7200 →
הָאָדָ֔ם	ha.'a.Dam	<the> man	H120 →
כִּ֤י	ki	for	H3588 →
הָֽאָדָם֙	ha.'a.Dam	<the> man	H120 →
יִרְאֶ֣ה	yir.'Eh	he sees	H7200 →
לַעֵינַ֔יִם	la.'ei.Na.yim	to the eyes	H5869 →
וַיהוָ֖ה	va.Yah.weh	and Yahweh	H3068 →
יִרְאֶ֥ה	yir.'Eh	he sees	H7200 →
לַלֵּבָֽב׃	la.le.Vav	to the heart	H3824 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
leads to
- Romans 8:27
  And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
- Jeremiah 11:20
  O LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously, who examines the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.
- Revelation 2:23
  Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
- Hebrews 4:12–13
  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Psalms 139:23–24
  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
Through
1 Peter 3:4
but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
leads to
- Colossians 3:12
  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Through
Luke 16:15
So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
leads to
- Proverbs 21:2
  All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5
  Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…