NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
29 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 4:3 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
28 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison —
34 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains.
27 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Don't forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I'm locked up in this jail.
25 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
38 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
29 words
KJV
28 words
ESV
34 words
NLT
27 words
MSG
25 words
NASB
38 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 4:3?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 4:3 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 4:3 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.