What Does God Look Like In The Bible? Discover God’s Captivating Appearance

What God looks like[1] seems very thought-provoking to us as believers of God. God’s invisible nature and glory were revealed to us clearly, through His beautiful creations, prophetic visions, and close interaction with His chosen people like Moses.

God appeared to Moses and spoke to him face to face as a man speaks for a friend (Exodus 33:11). Yet Moses was not able to see His face and glory as scripture says, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live” (Exodus 33:18–20).

We may also figure out the fact that God created man in His own image and likeness. As children of God, we may view God like us who can sit, speak, wear a garment, and has hair, hands, and feet. What does God look like in the Bible? Does it matter to our faith in knowing this?

What Does God Look Like?

Throughout the Old Testament, the people of God (Israelites) fantasized about God’s image or looks through carved stones, wood, and other earthly matter and substance. Idolatry becomes one of the repetitive occurrences of rebellion and disobedience of God’s people.

John 1:18 says “no one has ever seen God” but the Bible has not left us clueless or ignorant of what God looks like. God’s appearance in humanity on earth is manifested through Jesus Christ. He is the exact mark of His character, giving us the certainty that God exists and our hope is not in vain.

God is Spirit and Eternal being. God is transcendent. He exists both above and independently from all creation. It is beyond human understanding and knowledge. Any physical description of God would be incomplete and inadequate.

The earthly body does not limit him: He is not limited to shape; He is not limited to force; He is not limited to boundaries or bonds; He is immeasurable and indiscernible to eyes that are limited to material things.

How Is God Described In The Bible?

The Bible verses describing God will allow us to reveal His true nature and character. God the Father is grasped through the power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ in human form who lived among us.

1. God Is A Spirit.

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.—John 4:24

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.—2 Corinthians 3:17–18

2. God Is Eternal And Everlasting.

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.—Deuteronomy 33:27a

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.— Isaiah 40:28

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.—1 Timothy 1:7

3. God Is Light—He Shines Like The Sun.

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him, there is no darkness at all.—1 John 1:5

And His appearance was like lightning, and His clothing as white as snow.—Matthew 28:3

Having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.—Revelation 21:11

4. God Is Consuming Fire.

For the Lord, your God is a consuming fire a jealous God.—Deuteronomy 4:24

Therefore understand today that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you.—Deuteronomy 9:35

5. God Is The Alpha And Omega.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”—Revelations 1:8

6. The Word Was God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.—John 1:1

7. Clothed With Splendor, Majesty, And Glory.

On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and Your wonderful works, I will meditate.—Psalm 145:5

Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy are in His place.—1 Chronicles 16:27

8. God Is Great And Powerful.

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples.—Luke 9:43

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.—1 Chronicles 29:11

9. God Is Almighty.

“The Mighty One, God, the Lord, the Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows, and may Israel itself know. If it was in rebellion, or if in an unfaithful act against the Lord do not save us this day!—Joshua 22:22

Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make Your face shine on us, that we may be saved.—Psalms 80:19

10. God Is The Holy One.

And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.”—Isaiah 6:3

“I am the Lord, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.”—Isaiah 43:15

11. God Is The Holy Trinity (The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.—2 Corinthians 13:14

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.—John 14:26

How Did The Prophets Describe What God Looks Like?

The Bible describes God’s appearance through the following prophetic visions:

• Prophet Ezekiel had a vision of the heavenly throne where God dwells and gave a brief description of what God looks like in chapter 1. God’s likeliness is the appearance of a man (Ezekiel 1:26) that from the waist up looks like a glowing metal as if full of fire like a gleaming amber, and from the waist down looks like a burning flame, and brilliant light surrounded Him shining with splendor (Ezekiel 1:27).
• All around Him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like (Ezekiel 1:28).
• Prophet Daniel had a vision where the “Ancient of Days” sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, His hair like the purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from His presence (Daniel 7:9-10).
• Prophet John describes God’s appearance as one like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. (Revelations 1:13-16).
• John also describes Jesus as the light that has come into the world (John 1:4-5).

Top 5 Possibilities Of What God Looks Like

The Bible explains God’s appearance based on collective descriptions of the prophets, man of God from the Old Testament, and apostles from the New Testament time. Whenever people encounter God’s glory, they see the manifestation of the following elements:

• Great fire as blazing fire or fiery flame.
• Brilliant light as glowing sunlight.
• Color as white as snow.
• Clothed with a garment, appearing like a man.
• Seated on a majestic throne that represents God’s rule and sovereignty.

Why Does It Matter What God Looks Like?

For many people, the physical appearance of God is believed to be a reflection of divine power, wisdom, and compassion. The visual representation of God can help people connect with and understand the divine nature of their faith. It can also serve as a symbol of hope and comfort during times of uncertainty and hardship.

Some people may believe that God’s appearance is not relevant or necessary to their spiritual practice. They may view God as a purely spiritual or metaphysical entity that transcends physical form and cannot be fully captured by any one image or representation.

To the believers of God, it is essential to their religious practices. For there are many gods and lords that appear on earth but the One who created all things is the Christian God who appeared in the Bible.

We cannot fully love and worship God if we have an incorrect view or perception of God’s nature and character. The scripture says, that true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for this is the kind of worshipper God look at (John 4:24).

Conclusion

In the Bible, God is described as a spiritual being and is not depicted physically as having a specific appearance or form. However, the Bible uses anthropomorphic language to describe God such as His eyes, hands, and feet. These descriptions are not intended to be taken literally but rather to help us understand God’s character and actions in terms that we can relate to.

As sinful human beings, we are incapable of seeing God in all His glory. His appearance is utterly unimaginable and too glorious for us to fully perceive. In this sense, God gave His Son Jesus Christ to be in human form to reveal God’s true nature to humanity.