NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
10 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 4:20 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
But ye have not so learned Christ;
7 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
But that is not the way you learned Christ! —
10 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.
8 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
But that's no life for you. You learned Christ!
9 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
But you did not learn Christ in this way,
9 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
10 words
KJV
7 words
ESV
10 words
NLT
8 words
MSG
9 words
NASB
9 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 4:20?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 4:20 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 4:20 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.