NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
18 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:13 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
They are reborn — not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
22 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.
10 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
22 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
18 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
22 words
MSG
10 words
NASB
22 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:13?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:13 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 1:13 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.