NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 1:4 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
26 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.
31 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
26 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
31 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 1:4?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 1:4 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 1:4 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.