NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 3:17 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
26 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love,
27 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; [and] that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
26 words
MSG
27 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 3:17?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 3:17 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 3:17 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.