NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 4:15 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
17 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
22 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Say hello to our friends in Laodicea; also to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
18 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.
18 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
17 words
NLT
22 words
MSG
18 words
NASB
18 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 4:15?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 4:15 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 4:15 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.