NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 4:8 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. <sup>captivity: or, a multitude of captives</sup>
24 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
20 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights,he led a crowd of captivesand gave gifts to his people.”
22 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The text for this is, He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people.
28 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Therefore it says, 'WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.'
21 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
24 words
ESV
20 words
NLT
22 words
MSG
28 words
NASB
21 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 4:8?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 4:8 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 4:8 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.