NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 1:9 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
21 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ — which is to fulfill his own good plan.
20 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ,
21 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
21 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
20 words
MSG
21 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 1:9?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 1:9 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 1:9 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.