NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 5:2 — 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 walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
27 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
50 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
27 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
27 words
MSG
50 words
NASB
27 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 5:2?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 5:2 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 5:2 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.