Bible Question:
What was Jesus' physical appearance?
Bible Answer:
The Bible never describes Jesus’ physical appearance while He walked on this planet. Some individuals believe that Exodus 24:10; Daniel 7:9; 10:5-6 or Revelation 1:14-15; 4:2-3 describe Jesus’ physical, earthly appearance. However, a careful and close examination of these passages reveals that Exodus 24:10; Daniel 7:9 and Revelation 4:2-3 describe the appearance of God the Father in heaven. Daniel 10:5-6 and Revelation 1:14-15 describe a vision of Christ in heaven, but not His physical appearance on earth when He had taken on the human form of a male body.
Jesus Was Not Handsome
The only passage in the Bible that refers to Jesus’ physical appearance while He was on this planet is Isaiah 53:2
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
Isaiah 53:2 (NASB)
The passage tells us that Jesus “had no stately form or majesty” and no “appearance that we should be attracted to Him.” In short, Jesus was not a handsome man.
Jesus Was a Male
Luke 2:16 tells us that Jesus was born into this world as a baby. The gospels tell us that He was a male (Luke 7:49) who bled blood like any other human (John 19:34). He had hands and feet (Luke 24:39). He ate food (Luke 24:42-43) and drank liquids (Matthew 27:48). The apostle John states in 1 John 1:1 that he and others had heard, seen and touched Jesus.
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life . . . 1 John 1:1 (NASB)
This reveals that Jesus spoke a language. He was visible to the naked eye and He was not a just a spirit, but He had a physical body.
Many speculate that Jesus’ skin color was olive colored, white, black or brown, but the Bible never describes Jesus’ skin color while He had the form of a human man living on earth. Jesus was born to a Jewish mother. The skin color of Jews today varies in shades of white to olive. His height, weight, hair color, eye color or physical build. In short, we do not know what Jesus looked like while living as a man on earth since the Bible does not tell us, and there are no historical records that describe His physical appearance.
Conclusion:
Many speculate about the appearance of Jesus Christ, but the Bible never gives us a description of Him. However, Christians will see Him some day and finally understand what He looks like.
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:2-3 (NASB)
Some day we will see Him as He appears. We can rejoice that we do not know what He looked like when He walked among us because His appearance when He walked on earth is not important. God tells us that He does not look at the outward appearance but at the heart. What is your heart like? Are you confused with anger and a preoccupation with the external or with the spiritual condition of your heart? Let’s forget about the external appearance of Christ. What is important about Jesus is that He is our God, our Savior from sin, and His resurrection proves He is our God (Romans 1:4).
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Are there any biblical references to Jesus' skin
color?
The Bible does not give a physical description of how Jesus looked from the perspective of those who saw Him on earth. However, based on the writings of the New Testament, some characteristics can be observed.
Jesus was clearly a Jewish male. Based on known traditions of the time period, He was likely a little over five feet tall, had Middle Eastern skin tones, dark hair, and a full beard. According to Luke, Jesus was also circumcised as an infant, according to Jewish custom (Luke 2). Luke 2:52 mentions normal physical and social development, but nothing more.
The Gospel writers mentioned Jesus' clothing. He wore a traditional Jewish outer garment, called a robe in English translations, which was stripped from Him during His trials in Matthew 27. This robe was turned "dazzling white" at His Transfiguration and was given away by lot (a game of chance) when Jesus was crucified. In addition, Jesus wore some type of traditional Jewish undergarment, as was made clear when He washed the feet of His disciples in John 13. John the Baptist also referred to the sandals of Jesus, indicating the type of shoes He wore (Luke 3:16).
Because the disciples in the New Testament did not highlight His physical characteristics, it is likely Jesus did not have any physical characteristics that stood out to His friends. He was likely average height and weight and lacked a bodybuilder physique.
Some mention Isaiah 53:2 when speaking of Jesus' appearance. The passage serves as a prediction of the suffering servant in reference to Jesus. It states, "For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him." According to this verse, Jesus was not known for His physical looks, which confirms the New Testament accounts that mention nothing about His looks.
In Revelation 1:14-15 we are given a description of Jesus as He looked to the writer in His vision. It reads, "The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters." This passage describes the resurrected Jesus with head and hair that are white or perhaps glowing, along with eyes like fire. His bronze feet and loud voice complete the picture of a majestic, powerful Jesus who has conquered death and the grave.
While our contemporary age seeks answers regarding how Jesus looked, Scripture gives little attention to His physical characteristics and instead focuses on His spiritual teachings. Accordingly, those who seek to follow Jesus are challenged to focus on living out His teachings rather than on speculating about His physical appearance.
What was the historical Jesus like? Who was Jesus as a person?
Was Jesus a Jew?
Was Jesus black?
What language did Jesus speak?
Did Jesus have brothers and sisters (siblings)?
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