NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:18 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
24 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
20 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
26 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day.
30 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained [Him].
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
24 words
ESV
20 words
NLT
26 words
MSG
30 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:18?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:18 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 1:18 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.