Esther before AhasuerusFranciszek Smuglewicz · 1778

Beauty

/BYOO-tee/

Summary

Physical attractiveness, which Scripture acknowledges but warns can be vain and fleeting, contrasting it with the beauty of godly character.

☩Vanity of Physical Beauty

Proverbs declares that charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised. The psalmist notes that beauty wastes away under God's discipline like a moth consuming a garment.

Key verses:Proverbs 31:30Psalm 39:11Proverbs 6:25

☩Examples of Beautiful People

Scripture mentions the beauty of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Abigail, David, Bathsheba, Absalom, and Esther among others. Yet physical beauty often accompanied spiritual testing or moral complexity.

Key verses:Genesis 12:11Genesis 26:7Genesis 29:171 Samuel 16:12Esther 2:7

☩True Beauty

The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is precious in God's sight. The beauty of holiness is praised in worship.

Key verses:1 Peter 3:3-4Psalm 29:2Psalm 96:9

Related Verses61 mentions

Ezekiel· 12 verses

7:20 16:14 16:15 16:25 27:3

Psalms· 10 verses

27:4 29:2 39:11 45:11 49:14

Isaiah· 10 verses

3:24 13:19 28:1 28:4 28:5

Genesis· 4 verses

12:11 24:16 29:17 39:6

References

1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Beauty," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).