NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 3:5 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
28 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God's Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order.
28 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
28 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
28 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
28 words
NASB
28 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 3:5?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 3:5 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 3:5 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.