What Does The Bible Say About What Jesus Looked Like?

The Bible does not have a lot to say about Jesus’ physical appearance; although he is unlikely to look like the image we have become familiar with in renaissance art.

For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah. Hebrews 7:14

Jesus was descended from the tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth. His appearance is likely to have been similar to other Jewish men of the time, with a beard and short hair.

The prophet Isaiah makes two comments about Jesus’ appearance.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2

Just as there were many who were appalled at him, his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness. Isaiah 52:14

This tells us that there was nothing outstanding about Jesus’ physical appearance. People were not drawn to him because he was physically attractive. Secondly, Isaiah predicts Jesus’ torture and crucifixion would leave him so disfigured that onlookers would be appalled.

When the resurrected Jesus appears to his disciples, his physical appearance retains similarities with his previous appearance (e.g. showing his wounds to Thomas in John 20:24-29), but he is not always immediately recognisable to his disciples (Luke 24:15-16).

Jesus ascended into heaven in bodily form (Acts 1:9) and, in Revelation, John sees a vision of Jesus in the heavenly realms.

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. Rev 1:14-16

This description of Jesus is symbolic, communicating his attributes, rather than his appearance. However, it is fascinating to note that, while Jesus’ appearance on the Earth was not outstanding, a glimpse of Jesus enthroned in heaven is not something that would not be easily forgotten!

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