NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
26 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 3:8 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
26 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
29 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities. And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ.
73 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
22 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
26 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
26 words
NLT
29 words
MSG
73 words
NASB
22 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 3:8?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 3:8 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 3:8 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.