NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
24 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 4:11 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
16 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
13 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher
15 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers,
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
24 words
KJV
16 words
ESV
13 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
15 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 4:11?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 4:11 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 4:11 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.