NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
30 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 1:18 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. <sup>in: or, among all</sup>
32 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
26 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Christ is also the head of the church,which is his body.He is the beginning,supreme over all who rise from the dead.So he is first in everything.
26 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone.
45 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
31 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
30 words
KJV
32 words
ESV
26 words
NLT
26 words
MSG
45 words
NASB
31 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 1:18?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 1:18 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 1:18 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.