NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 2:20 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
15 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
22 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone
28 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner [stone],
18 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
15 words
NLT
22 words
MSG
28 words
NASB
18 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 2:20?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 2:20 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 2:20 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.