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What does the Bible say about inner beauty?

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The Bible teaches that true beauty is chiefly the inward grace of a heart renewed by God, marked by reverence, humility, love, and enduring faith. First Peter 3:3-4 contrasts merely outward adornment with the precious beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Proverbs 31:30 reminds us that charm and physical beauty fade, but the woman who fears the Lord is worthy of praise. God looks beyond human appearance to the heart, as 1 Samuel 16:7 declares, and believers are being inwardly renewed day by day through Christ (2 Corinthians 4:16). Because all people are wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14), outward appearance may be received with gratitude, yet wisdom, love, and godly character are far more precious.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 1 Peter 3:3-4

    [3] Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; [4] but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.

  • Song of Solomon 4:7

    You are all beautiful, my love. There is no spot in you.

  • Proverbs 31:30

    Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.

  • Psalms 139:14

    I will give thanks to you, For I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [Yahweh sees] not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart."

  • 1 Peter 3:4

    but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.

  • Proverbs 3:15

    She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:16

    Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

  • Proverbs 3:15-18

    [15] She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. [16] Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. [17] Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. [18] She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

    [4] Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, [5] doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; [6] doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

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