NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 2:5 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) <sup>by: or, by whose grace</sup>
23 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved —
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
32 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!
26 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
23 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
32 words
MSG
26 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 2:5?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 2:5 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 2:5 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.