What Jesus Really Looked Like According to Experts

Jesus is one of the most recognized figures in history. However, experts agree that the common images of him are probably far from accurate.

Historians say Jesus likely did not have long, flowing hair or a thick beard. He also may not have worn the elaborate robes often seen in pictures. Instead, he probably looked like an ordinary person living in Judea during the first century.

One surprising detail in modern depictions of Jesus might actually be accurate. Many images show him with a strong, lean physique. Experts believe this could reflect reality.

Revealed: What #Jesus REALLY looked like?
Experts say that every image you’ve seen of Jesus is almost certainly inaccurate.
Experts think Jesus would have had dark skin, brown eyes & short curly hair.
For clothing, he would have worn a simple knee-length tunic & a woollen mantle pic.twitter.com/gfwS0SndgX

— Ch.M.NAIDU (@chmnaidu) December 1, 2024

Dr. Meredith Warren, an expert in Biblical studies at Sheffield University, explains that Jesus came from a working-class family. She says his daily life likely involved physical labor and lots of walking, which would have kept him fit.

Jesus’ hair and beard

The common image of Jesus often shows him with long, brown hair and a full beard. However, historians say this likely doesn’t match the reality of how Jesus looked.

Jesus was ethnically Judean and lived in what is now modern-day Palestine. This suggests his hair and beard would have been black and curly, not brown and straight. Experts also believe he likely kept his hair and beard short, following the common grooming styles of his time.

Beard and hair trends, even in ancient times, came and went. During the first century AD, being clean-shaven was important in Roman culture. While Jesus, as a Jew, probably did grow a beard, it was likely well-maintained and not overly long. Historical coins from that era show Judean men with short, curly beards, hinting at the popular style.

Joan Taylor, a professor of Christian origins at King’s College London, points out that long hair and beards in ancient Judaism were often associated with special vows, such as abstaining from wine. She notes that Jesus was accused of drinking wine, suggesting he didn’t follow such vows.

Facial features of Jesus

The Bible provides little detail about Jesus’ physical appearance. However, experts have used historical and cultural clues to make educated guesses about how he might have looked.

Dr. Meredith Warren suggests Jesus likely had brown skin and brown eyes, resembling the local population of Judea. His outdoor lifestyle and work would have left him with a weathered face, possibly with lines from sun exposure. His hands and feet were likely rough and calloused from manual labor.

The Bible also suggests Jesus did not stand out physically. For instance, in the Garden of Gethsemane, soldiers needed Judas to identify Jesus among a crowd of Judean men.

Similarly, in the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene mistook him for a gardener. These accounts indicate Jesus likely looked similar to other men of his time, with no especially distinctive features.

Jesus’ muscles

In many paintings and statues, Jesus is shown with well-defined muscles, particularly a chiseled abdomen. While this might seem like an unusual artistic choice, experts believe it isn’t entirely inaccurate when considering the details of his life.

Professor Taylor said, “Jesus did a lot of walking, during his mission, and his trade was as a carpenter or constructor, so he was not a couch potato.”

“He and his disciples essentially lived on hospitality, charity and they shared food, so I don’t think he ate that much. I see him more as wiry than bulky.”

Jesus and his disciples relied on shared meals and the generosity of others, meaning he likely ate modestly. Professor Taylor describes him as “wiry” rather than bulky, with a lean physique from a combination of physical activity and limited food intake.

Clothing and sandals of Jesus

Modern depictions of Jesus often show him in a long, flowing white robe. However, historians suggest his actual clothing would have been quite different.

In first-century Judea, long robes were typically worn by women. Men usually wore a short woolen tunic, made from two pieces of fabric and tied at the waist with a belt. Beneath this, they might have worn a thinner linen tunic.

While Roman citizens were allowed to wear togas, Jesus likely wore a heavy woolen mantle called a himation for warmth. As a Jewish man, his mantle might have included knotted tassels, known as tzitzit, at the corners. However, these were not unusual, as many garments of the time featured fringes or decorative knots.

One detail that modern portrayals get right is Jesus’ footwear. Everyone in Judea at the time wore leather sandals. Archaeologists have uncovered examples of first-century sandals in the Dead Sea and Masada caves.

These findings show that sandals of the time were simple, with thick leather soles stitched together and leather straps looping around the toes and feet.