NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
28 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:39 — 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 saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.about: that was two hours before night
33 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
32 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.
35 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
He replied, "Come along and see for yourself." They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.
31 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
He said to them, 'Come, and you will see.' So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
32 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
28 words
KJV
33 words
ESV
32 words
NLT
35 words
MSG
31 words
NASB
32 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:39?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:39 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 1:39 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.