# Is “A man after God’s own heart” in the Bible?

> Yes. “A man after God’s own heart” comes from the Bible, from 1 Samuel 13:14.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/a-man-after-gods-own-heart
By Andrew Kittridge · November 9, 2026

The prophet Samuel says it to King Saul, about the man who will replace him.

## The verse

> But now your kingdom will not last. Yahweh has sought out for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him leader over his people, because you have not kept what Yahweh commanded you.”
>
> — [1 Samuel 13:14](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/13#14) (Lumin Translation)

The saying is not word for word. It shortens or reshapes the verse.

## What it means there

The man is David. It does not mean David was without fault: the Bible tells his failures in full. It means his heart was turned toward God.

## Also in the Bible

> After removing him, he raised up David to be their king. God testified about him, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do everything I want him to do.’
>
> — [Acts 13:22](https://www.lumin.faith/read/acts/13#22) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Is “A man after God’s own heart” in the Bible?

Yes. “A man after God’s own heart” comes from the Bible, from 1 Samuel 13:14. The saying is not word for word. It shortens or reshapes the verse. The prophet Samuel says it to King Saul, about the man who will replace him.

### Where in the Bible is “A man after God’s own heart”?

In 1 Samuel 13:14, and also Acts 13:22. In the Lumin Translation, 1 Samuel 13:14 reads: “But now your kingdom will not last. Yahweh has sought out for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him leader over his people, because you have not kept what Yahweh commanded you.””

### Who said “A man after God’s own heart”?

The prophet Samuel says it to King Saul, about the man who will replace him.

### What does “A man after God’s own heart” mean in the Bible?

The man is David. It does not mean David was without fault: the Bible tells his failures in full. It means his heart was turned toward God.

## More

- [Is “O ye of little faith” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/o-ye-of-little-faith.md)
- [Is “Render unto Caesar” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/render-unto-caesar.md)
- [Is “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-spirit-is-willing-but-the-flesh-is-weak.md)
- [Is “To everything there is a season” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/to-everything-there-is-a-season.md)
- [Is “Weighed in the balance and found wanting” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/weighed-in-the-balance-and-found-wanting.md)
- [Where is “For I know the plans I have for you” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/for-i-know-the-plans-i-have-for-you.md)
- [Where is “My grace is sufficient for you” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/my-grace-is-sufficient-for-you.md)
- [Where is “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/no-weapon-formed-against-you-shall-prosper.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)