NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
14 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 1:23 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
13 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
13 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
36 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
13 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
14 words
KJV
13 words
ESV
13 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
36 words
NASB
13 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 1:23?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 1:23 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 Ephesians 1:23 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.