Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
28 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
King James Version · 1611
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: <sup>blindness: or, hardness</sup>
28 words · Formal / word-for-word
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
26 words · Essentially literal
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
26 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
The Message · 2002
They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself.
21 words · Contemporary paraphrase
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
26 words · Most literal English translation
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 4:18 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).
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.
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.