NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus the Lamb of God The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
29 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:29 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. <sup>taketh away: or, beareth</sup>
28 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
24 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The very next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out,
13 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
29 words
KJV
28 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
24 words
MSG
13 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:29?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:29 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 1:29 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.