NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 1:22 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
25 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
43 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence.
31 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--
25 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
25 words
NLT
43 words
MSG
31 words
NASB
25 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 1:22?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 1:22 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 1:22 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.