NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 2:14 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
21 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
34 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The Messiah has made things up between us so that we're now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance.
35 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For He Himself is our peace, who made both [groups into] one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
21 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
21 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
34 words
MSG
35 words
NASB
21 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 2:14?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 2:14 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 2:14 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.