NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Thanksgiving and Prayer We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 1:3 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
18 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you!
23 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
16 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
18 words
MSG
23 words
NASB
16 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 1:3?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 1:3 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 1:3 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.