NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
13 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:36 — 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 looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
14 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!”
17 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb."
15 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God!'
15 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
13 words
KJV
14 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
17 words
MSG
15 words
NASB
15 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:36?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:36 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 1:36 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.