How tall was Jesus?

TL;DR:

The Bible doesn't say how tall Jesus was or really give us any specific information about how He looked. What truly matters is Jesus’ heart and character, not His height or outward appearance.

The Bible does not provide any specific details about Jesus’ height or physical appearance, only noting that He had no extraordinary beauty or form. Jesus was likely average in appearance, reflecting the typical height of first-century Jewish men, estimated between 5'0" and 5'2". Cultural and artistic depictions often imagine Him taller or more imposing, but these are not based on biblical facts. The Bible emphasizes that God values the heart over outward appearance, and Jesus’ love, not His looks, is what draws people. Ultimately, Jesus’ spiritual identity and faithfulness matter far more than His physical stature.

from the old testament

The only people whose physical height the Bible mentions are Saul (1 Samuel 9:2), Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4), and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:3).
The one verse that mentions Jesus' physical appearance is Isaiah 53:2, which says, "he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him." What we can deduce from this is that Jesus was a generally average-looking person.
God cares about the heart and doesn’t see humanity like we do: "For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

from the new testament

Jesus was not the most attractive or impressive person. He was average looking. It is the love of Jesus that draws people, not physical beauty or prowess. This was true for Jesus, and it is true for all of us: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

implications for today

Anthropologists who have studied ancient cultures have been able to approximate the average height of people in the ancient world. Opinions differ, of course, but many would place the average height of first-century Jewish males living in Israel at 5'1" (155cm). Based on this information, it is likely that Jesus was between 5' (152cm) and 5'2" (160cm) tall. Today's average height for males in the Middle East is 5'4" (165cm) to 5'8" (177cm). Worldwide the average is between 5'2" (158cm) and 6' (184cm), varying by country. Thus, in modern minds, this height for Jesus may seem short. But, again, He was average looking, neither notably tall nor short for His time.

Knowing who Jesus is, and based on many artistic renderings of Him, we may naturally envision Him as exceptionally tall or good looking. Humans have a tendency to equate physical appearance with personal characteristics. We imagine our heroes to be physically imposing and attractive. Jesus, being God incarnate and our only Savior, is, of course, much more than just a hero. He is our Lord and worthy of all our praise (Philippians 2:1–11; Colossians 1:15–20). Only through faith in Christ can we be saved (Ephesians 2:1–10). Knowing His preeminence, it is normal that we would want to think of Jesus as physically superior and stunning. But that is biblically inaccurate. Height is not what matters but a person’s heart and their faithfulness toward God.

understand

The Bible gives no specific details about Jesus’ height, only that He was likely average-looking.
Artistic images of Jesus are not based on biblical fact but cultural imagination.
What matters most is Jesus’ heart and character, not His physical appearance.

reflect

How do you evaluate the importance you place on outward appearance compared to the condition of your heart?
In what ways can you focus more on reflecting Jesus’ love rather than how you look to others?
How does knowing Jesus was likely average in appearance challenge your ideas about leadership and influence especially as it relates to appearances?

engage

How do cultural images of Jesus shape or distort our understanding of His true identity?
What does it mean for us that God looks at the heart rather than outward appearance, especially in today’s appearance-focused culture?
How can we better prioritize character and love over physical or social status in our communities?