# What Does God Look Like?
> Every Bible description of God’s appearance: the throne visions of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation, the glorified Christ, the Transfiguration, the Angel of the LORD, and the verses that say no man has seen God, in the King James Version.
- Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/god/what-does-god-look-like
- Religions: none
- Denominations: none
- Beliefs: God
- Tags: god, theophany, scripture
- Updated: 2026-10-13
- Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) ([GitHub](https://github.com/hi-its-paul))
import RefTable from '../../components/RefTable.astro';
import { expandRef } from '../../lib/god-references';
export const keys = (refs) => refs.flatMap((ref) => expandRef(ref));
export const throne = ['Isaiah 6:1–4', 'Ezekiel 1:26–28', 'Daniel 7:9–10', 'Revelation 4:2–3'];
export const christ = ['Daniel 7:13–14', 'Matthew 17:2', 'Revelation 1:13–16', 'Colossians 1:15', 'Hebrews 1:3'];
export const theophanies = ['Genesis 16:7', 'Genesis 16:13', 'Genesis 18:1–2', 'Genesis 32:24', 'Genesis 32:30', 'Exodus 3:2', 'Exodus 3:6', 'Exodus 24:9–11', 'Exodus 33:18–23', 'Judges 6:12', 'Judges 6:22', 'Judges 13:20–22', 'Psalms 104:2'];
export const unseen = ['Exodus 33:20', 'John 1:18', 'John 4:24', '1 Timothy 1:17', '1 Timothy 6:16', '1 John 4:12'];
export const total = new Set(keys([...throne, ...christ, ...theophanies, ...unseen])).size;
The Bible says God is a Spirit ([John 4:24](/bible/john/4/24)) whom “no man hath seen, nor can see” ([1 Timothy 6:16](/bible/1-timothy/6/16)), yet it records men who saw the LORD on a throne, the God of Israel standing on a pavement of sapphire, and the Angel of the LORD who spoke as God. It describes God in light, fire, precious stones, and a rainbow, and calls Jesus “the image of the invisible God” ([Colossians 1:15](/bible/colossians/1/15)). This page prints those passages from the King James Version, {total} verses in all.
## Key Points
- Isaiah saw “the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up” ([Isaiah 6:1](/bible/isaiah/6/1)). Ezekiel saw “the likeness as the appearance of a man” above the throne, with fire and a rainbow ([Ezekiel 1:26–28](/bible/ezekiel/1/26)).
- Daniel saw the Ancient of days, whose garment was white as snow and “the hair of his head like the pure wool” ([Daniel 7:9](/bible/daniel/7/9)).
- John saw one like the Son of man whose “head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow” ([Revelation 1:14](/bible/revelation/1/14)). Revelation gives Jesus the white hair Daniel gives the Ancient of days.
- In [Revelation 4:3](/bible/revelation/4/3) the one on the throne “was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone,” with a rainbow “like unto an emerald.”
- Moses was told, “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live” ([Exodus 33:20](/bible/exodus/33/20)). [John 1:18](/bible/john/1/18) says, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son… hath declared him.”
- Hagar, Jacob, and Manoah say they have seen God after the Angel of the LORD or a man appears to them ([Genesis 16:13](/bible/genesis/16/13); [Genesis 32:30](/bible/genesis/32/30); [Judges 13:22](/bible/judges/13/22)). Gideon says, “I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face” ([Judges 6:22](/bible/judges/6/22)).
## The Passages by Theme
| Theme | Passages |
| --- | --- |
| God on the throne | [Isaiah 6:1–4](/bible/isaiah/6/1), [Ezekiel 1:26–28](/bible/ezekiel/1/26), [Daniel 7:9–10](/bible/daniel/7/9), [Revelation 4:2–3](/bible/revelation/4/2) |
| The glorified Christ | [Daniel 7:13–14](/bible/daniel/7/13), [Matthew 17:2](/bible/matthew/17/2), [Revelation 1:13–16](/bible/revelation/1/13), [Colossians 1:15](/bible/colossians/1/15), [Hebrews 1:3](/bible/hebrews/1/3) |
| Theophanies and the Angel of the LORD | [Genesis 16:7–13](/bible/genesis/16/7), [Genesis 18:1–2](/bible/genesis/18/1), [Genesis 32:24–30](/bible/genesis/32/24), [Exodus 3:2–6](/bible/exodus/3/2), [Exodus 24:9–11](/bible/exodus/24/9), [Exodus 33:18–23](/bible/exodus/33/18), [Judges 6:12–22](/bible/judges/6/12), [Judges 13:20–22](/bible/judges/13/20), [Psalm 104:2](/bible/psalms/104/2) |
| No man has seen God | [Exodus 33:20](/bible/exodus/33/20), [John 1:18](/bible/john/1/18), [John 4:24](/bible/john/4/24), [1 Timothy 1:17](/bible/1-timothy/1/17), [1 Timothy 6:16](/bible/1-timothy/6/16), [1 John 4:12](/bible/1-john/4/12) |
## God on the Throne
The beings around the throne in these visions are on [Cherubim and Seraphim](/god/cherubim-and-seraphim).
## The Glorified Christ
### White Hair Like Wool
Daniel and Revelation use the same picture. Of the Ancient of days, [Daniel 7:9](/bible/daniel/7/9) says “his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame.” Of one like the Son of man, [Revelation 1:14](/bible/revelation/1/14) says “his head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire.” In Daniel 7 the Son of man comes to the Ancient of days ([Daniel 7:13](/bible/daniel/7/13)); in Revelation 1 the description of the Ancient of days is given to the Son of man, who then says, “I am the first and the last” ([Revelation 1:17](/bible/revelation/1/17)).
## Theophanies and the Angel of the LORD
A theophany is an appearance of God. In several of these passages the Angel of the LORD speaks as God.
## No Man Has Seen God
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Does God Have a Body?
[John 4:24](/bible/john/4/24) says “God is a Spirit.” The visions describe “the likeness” and “the appearance” of what was seen ([Ezekiel 1:28](/bible/ezekiel/1/28)). [Colossians 1:15](/bible/colossians/1/15) calls the Son “the image of the invisible God.”
### How Did Moses See God If No Man Can?
[Exodus 33:11](/bible/exodus/33/11) says the LORD spoke to Moses “face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend,” and [Exodus 33:20–23](/bible/exodus/33/20) says Moses could not see his face and saw his back parts. [John 1:18](/bible/john/1/18) says the Son has declared him.
### What Does Islam Say About How God Looks?
See [What Does Allah Look Like?](/islam/what-does-allah-look-like)
## Keep Reading
- [Cherubim and Seraphim](/god/cherubim-and-seraphim)
- [What Are the Attributes of God?](/god/attributes-of-god)
- [The Names and Titles of Jesus](/god/names-and-titles-of-jesus)
## Passages Quoted on This Page
### John 4:24
King James Version.
> God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
### 1 Timothy 6:16
King James Version.
> Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
### Colossians 1:15
King James Version.
> Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
### Isaiah 6:1
King James Version.
> In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
### Ezekiel 1:26
King James Version.
> And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
### Daniel 7:9
King James Version.
> I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
### Revelation 1:14
King James Version.
> His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
### Revelation 4:3
King James Version.
> And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
### Exodus 33:20
King James Version.
> And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
### John 1:18
King James Version.
> No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
### Genesis 16:13
King James Version.
> And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
### Genesis 32:30
King James Version.
> And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
### Judges 13:22
King James Version.
> And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
### Judges 6:22
King James Version.
> And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O LORD God! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.
### Revelation 4:2
King James Version.
> And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
### Daniel 7:13
King James Version.
> I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
### Matthew 17:2
King James Version.
> And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
### Revelation 1:13
King James Version.
> And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
### Hebrews 1:3
King James Version.
> Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
### Genesis 16:7
King James Version.
> And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
### Genesis 18:1
King James Version.
> And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
### Genesis 32:24
King James Version.
> And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
### Exodus 3:2
King James Version.
> And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
### Exodus 24:9
King James Version.
> Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
### Exodus 33:18
King James Version.
> And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
### Judges 6:12
King James Version.
> And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
### Judges 13:20
King James Version.
> For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
### Psalms 104:2
King James Version.
> Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
### 1 Timothy 1:17
King James Version.
> Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
### 1 John 4:12
King James Version.
> No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
### Revelation 1:17
King James Version.
> And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
### Ezekiel 1:28
King James Version.
> As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
### Exodus 33:11
King James Version.
> And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
### Daniel 7:9–10
King James Version.
> [7:9] I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. [7:10] A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
### Revelation 1:13–16
King James Version.
> [1:13] And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. [1:14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; [1:15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. [1:16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
### Ezekiel 1:26–28
King James Version.
> [1:26] And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. [1:27] And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. [1:28] As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
### Isaiah 6:1–4
King James Version.
> [6:1] In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. [6:2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. [6:3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. [6:4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
### Exodus 24:9–11
King James Version.
> [24:9] Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: [24:10] And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. [24:11] And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
## Sources
Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site.
1. [Book of Daniel, 7:9–10; 7:13](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/daniel/7). King James Version
2. [Book of Revelation, 1:13–16; 4:2–3](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/revelation/1). King James Version
3. [Book of Ezekiel, 1:26–28](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/ezekiel/1). King James Version
4. [Book of Isaiah, 6:1–4](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/isaiah/6). King James Version
5. [Book of Exodus, 24:9–11; 33:18–23](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/exodus/24). King James Version
6. [Gospel of John, 1:18; 4:24](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/1/18). King James Version
7. [First Letter to Timothy, 6:16](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/1-timothy/6/16). King James Version
## See Also
- [Cherubim and Seraphim](https://apologetics.wiki/god/cherubim-and-seraphim) — The cherubim of Ezekiel 1 and 10, the seraphim of Isaiah 6, and the four beasts around the throne in Revelation 4, in the King James Version, with what each passage says they look like and do.
- [What Are the Attributes of God?](https://apologetics.wiki/god/attributes-of-god) — Every King James verse that says what God is, grouped by attribute: love, light, spirit, holy, righteous, just, merciful, gracious, good, faithful, true, eternal, unchanging, almighty, all-knowing, everywhere present, wise, sovereign, one, and the I AM.
- [Is God Real?](https://apologetics.wiki/god/does-god-exist) — Is God real? Christians say yes. The question does God exist is the same question: contingency, moral life, and a world fit for life, with the strongest atheist replies.
- [The I AM Statements of Jesus](https://apologetics.wiki/god/i-am-statements-of-jesus) — The seven “I am” sayings in John, from the bread of life to the true vine, and the sayings where Jesus says “I am” with no predicate, set beside “I AM THAT I AM” and “I am he” in the Old Testament, with the Greek and every King James verse.
- [The Jehovah Compound Names](https://apologetics.wiki/god/jehovah-compound-names) — Jehovah-jireh, Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah-shalom, Jehovah-tsidkenu, Jehovah-shammah, and the other names that join the divine name to a word, with the Hebrew, Strong’s numbers, and every King James verse.
## External Links
- [R. A. Torrey, Torrey’s New Topical Textbook](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/torrey/ttt.html?term=God) — The entry “God” lists God as a spirit and as invisible, with verses.