NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
27 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 1:20 — 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, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. <sup>having: or, making</sup>
35 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
23 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
and through him God reconciledeverything to himself.He made peace with everything in heaven and on earthby means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross.
39 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say], whether things on earth or things in heaven.
30 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
27 words
KJV
35 words
ESV
23 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
39 words
NASB
30 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 1:20?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 1:20 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 1:20 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.