1 Samuel 16:7

God tells Samuel not to judge by appearance, for the LORD looks at the heart. This is a foundational truth about how God evaluates people.

Cross-references · 26

• John 7:24Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
• Jer 17:10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
• Luke 16:15So 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.
• 1 Pet 3:4but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
• Isa 55:8–9“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
• Prov 16:2All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
• Prov 31:30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
• Ps 147:10–11He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legpower of the man.
• 1 Chr 28:9As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
• 1 Kgs 8:39be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men—
• Acts 1:24And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen
• Heb 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
• 2 Chr 16:9For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
• Ps 139:2You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
• Jer 20:12O LORD of Hosts, who examines the righteous, who sees the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.
• Rev 2:23Then 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.
• 1 Sam 10:23–24So they ran and brought Saul, and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of the others.
• 2 Cor 10:10For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”
• 1 Sam 9:2And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.
• Job 10:4Do You have eyes of flesh? Do You see as man sees?
• 2 Sam 14:25Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.
• 1 Pet 2:4As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,
• Ps 7:9Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
• Prov 15:11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!
• Jer 11:20O 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.
• 2 Cor 10:7You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.

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