NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
26 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:23 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
25 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’”
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
"I'm thunder in the desert: 'Make the road straight for God!' I'm doing what the prophet Isaiah preached."
18 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
He said, 'I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,' as Isaiah the prophet said.'
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
26 words
KJV
24 words
ESV
25 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
18 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:23?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:23 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 1:23 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.