NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.
20 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:40 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
16 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus.
18 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John's witness and followed Jesus.
16 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
One of the two who heard John [speak] and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
16 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
20 words
KJV
16 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
18 words
MSG
16 words
NASB
16 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:40?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:40 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 1:40 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.