NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
24 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:22 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
24 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
25 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Exasperated, they said, "Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something—anything!—about yourself."
18 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Then they said to him, 'Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?'
26 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
24 words
KJV
24 words
ESV
25 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
18 words
NASB
26 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:22?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:22 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 1:22 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.