NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 2:8 — 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 by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
22 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish!
28 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God;
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
22 words
MSG
28 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 2:8?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 2:8 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 2:8 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.