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.
But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Don't judge by his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see the way people see, people look at the outside appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'
God is telling Samuel that He values what's in a person's heart far more than their physical appearance or impressive qualities that people can see.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, the prophet Samuel was sent by God to anoint a new king for Israel after King Saul's disobedience led to his rejection. When Samuel met Jesse's sons in Bethlehem, he was initially drawn to their impressive physical stature, but God corrected him by emphasizing that human judgments often focus on outward appearances while God looks at the heart. This event occurred during the transition from the period of judges to the establishment of the monarchy in ancient Israel.
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