The Meaning of 1 Samuel 16:7 Explained

1 Samuel 16:7

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.

YLT: 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.'

Darby: But Jehovah said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for it is not as man seeth; for man looketh upon the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh upon the heart.

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 Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Samuel 16:7 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 16:1-13 - God's Choice Of His Anointed
The anointing of the young shepherd, with his ruddy cheeks and deep, poetic eyes, is a beautiful episode, in very marked contrast to the events preceding. He had already given proof of his indomitable courage, 1 Samuel 17:34. They had to fetch him from his sheep, which he was pasturing beside the still waters and on the hillside. God had found him beforehand, Psalms 89:20. "He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds"¦ to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance," Psalms 78:70-71.
The procession of David's brethren before Samuel was very impressive. They probably remembered that Saul had been chosen for his splendid physique, and each held himself high and proud. "Surely," said Jesse to himself, "one of them will captivate the prophet's eye." But no! God chooses by the inward temper and disposition. He knew that David was a man after His own heart. The lad had been faithful in a few things and was now to be made ruler over many. The anointing oil reminds us of the anointing for service which was communicated to our Lord at His baptism. In David's case it was accompanied by a glorious Pentecost, 1 Samuel 16:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 16

1  Samuel sent by God, under pretense of a sacrifice, comes to Bethlehem
6  His human judgment is reproved
11  He anoints David
15  Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 16:7 mean?

But said Yahweh to Samuel not do look at his appearance or at the height of his stature because I have refused him for [Yahweh does] not [see] as sees man for man looks at the outward appearance but Yahweh at the heart
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־ שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל אַל־ תַּבֵּ֧ט אֶל־ מַרְאֵ֛הוּ וְאֶל־ גְּבֹ֥הַּ קוֹמָת֖וֹ כִּ֣י מְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּ כִּ֣י ׀ לֹ֗א אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִרְאֶה֙ הָאָדָ֔ם כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ יִרְאֶ֣ה לַעֵינַ֔יִם וַיהוָ֖ה לַלֵּבָֽב

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  But  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל  Samuel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁמוּאֵל  
Sense: son of Elkanah by his wife Hannah and judge or prophet of Israel during the days of Saul and David.
תַּבֵּ֧ט  do  look 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, second person masculine singular
Root: נָבַט  
Sense: to look, regard.
אֶל־  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מַרְאֵ֛הוּ  his  appearance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַרְאֶה  
Sense: sight, appearance, vision.
וְאֶל־  or  at 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
גְּבֹ֥הַּ  the  height 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גָּבֹהַּ  
Sense: high, exalted.
קוֹמָת֖וֹ  of  his  stature 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹומָה  
Sense: height.
כִּ֣י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּ  I  have  refused  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: מָאַס 
Sense: to reject, despise, refuse.
לֹ֗א  [Yahweh  does]  not  [see] 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִרְאֶה֙  sees 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הָאָדָ֔ם  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
הָֽאָדָם֙  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
יִרְאֶ֣ה  looks 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
לַעֵינַ֔יִם  at  the  outward  appearance 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, cd
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וַיהוָ֖ה  but  Yahweh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לַלֵּבָֽב  at  the  heart 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.