NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 3:21 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
17 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
25 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
to Him [be] the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
18 words
NLT
17 words
MSG
25 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 3:21?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 3:21 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 3:21 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.