NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 1:13 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: <sup>his: Gr. the Son of his love</sup>
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
20 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much,
23 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
20 words
MSG
23 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 1:13?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 1:13 in 6 translations: New International Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New American Standard Bible. Each uses a different translation philosophy — from word-for-word (KJV, ESV, NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT) to paraphrase (MSG).
Which translation of Colossians 1:13 is best?
No single translation is "best" — it depends on your purpose. For deep study, use the ESV or NASB (word-for-word). For devotional reading, the NIV balances accuracy and readability. The NLT and MSG are excellent for understanding the general meaning in modern English. Comparing multiple translations helps grasp the full richness of the text.
What is the difference between literal and dynamic Bible translations?
Literal (formal equivalence) translations like KJV, ESV, and NASB translate word-for-word from the original Hebrew/Greek. Dynamic equivalence translations like NIV and NLT translate thought-for-thought for clarity. The MSG is a paraphrase that captures the spirit in contemporary language. Each approach has strengths — that's why comparing translations is valuable.