NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
18 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:25 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
23 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Now they had a question of their own: "If you're neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?"
22 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
They asked him, and said to him, 'Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?'
23 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
18 words
KJV
23 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
22 words
NASB
23 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:25?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:25 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 1:25 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.