judging on appearances
What does the Bible say about judging on appearances? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
11 passages · most helpful first
24Do not judge according to appearances, but instead judge a just judgment.”
7And the Lord said to Samuel: “You should not look with favor on his face, nor on the height of his stature. For I have rejected him. Neither do I judge by the appearance of a man. For man sees those things that are apparent, but the Lord beholds the heart.”
1My brothers, within the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, do not choose to show favoritism toward persons. 2For if a man has entered your assembly having a gold ring and splendid apparel, and if a poor man has also entered, in dirty clothing, 3and if you are then attentive to the one who is clothed in excellent apparel, so that you say to him, “You may sit in this good place,” but you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit below my footstool,” 4are you not judging within yourselves, and have you not become judges with unjust thoughts? 5My most beloved brothers, listen. Has not God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that God has promised to those who love him?
9Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
1“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
15You shall not do what is unjust, nor shall you judge unjustly. You shall not consider the reputation of the poor, nor shall you honor the countenance of the powerful. Judge your neighbor justly.
1“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with whatever judgment you judge, so shall you be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, so shall it be measured back to you. 3And how can you see the splinter in your brother’s eye, and not see the board in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter from your eye,’ while, behold, a board is in your own eye? 5Hypocrite, first remove the board from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
10For am I now persuading men, or God? Or, am I seeking to please men? If I still were pleasing men, then I would not be a servant of Christ.
10I am the Lord, who examines the heart and tests the temperament, who gives to each one according to his way and according to the fruit of his own decisions.
2And he will rise up like a tender plant in his sight, and like a root from the thirsty ground. There is no beautiful or stately appearance in him. For we looked upon him, and there was no aspect, such that we would desire him.
9Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: Judge with true judgment, and act with mercy and compassion, each and every one with his brother. 10And do not find fault with the widow, and the orphan, and the newcomer, and the poor. And let not a man consider evil in his heart towards his brother.