NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).
23 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:41 — 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 first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. <sup>the Christ: or, the Anointed</sup>
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ” ).
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, "We've found the Messiah" (that is, "Christ").
25 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah ' (which translated means Christ).
21 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
23 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
25 words
NASB
21 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:41?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:41 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 1:41 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.