NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Submit Yourselves to God What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
James 4:1 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? <sup>fightings: or, brawlings</sup> <sup>lusts: or, pleasures</sup>
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?
20 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves.
36 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
22 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
20 words
MSG
36 words
NASB
22 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for James 4:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers James 4:1 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 James 4:1 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.