NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 1:21 — 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 you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled <sup>in: or, by your mind in</sup>
25 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
13 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got.
33 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, [engaged] in evil deeds,
14 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
25 words
ESV
13 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
33 words
NASB
14 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 1:21?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 1:21 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 1:21 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.