NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The Word Became Flesh In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:1 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
17 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
In the beginning the Word already existed.The Word was with God,and the Word was God.
15 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God,
18 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
17 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
17 words
NLT
15 words
MSG
18 words
NASB
17 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:1 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 John 1:1 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.