NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
14 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 2:4 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
15 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,
13 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love,
9 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
16 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
14 words
KJV
15 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
13 words
MSG
9 words
NASB
16 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 2:4?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 2:4 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 2:4 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.