NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:12 — 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 as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: <sup>power: or, the right, or, privilege</sup>
31 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
18 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.
28 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name,
25 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
31 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
18 words
MSG
28 words
NASB
25 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:12?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:12 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 1:12 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.