NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
20 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 2:13 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
20 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
30 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.
20 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
20 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
20 words
NLT
30 words
MSG
20 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 2:13?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 2:13 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 2:13 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.