NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:3 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
17 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
God created everything through him,and nothing was created except through him.
11 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him.
13 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
17 words
NLT
11 words
MSG
13 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:3?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:3 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 1:3 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.