NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
28 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:42 — 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 he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
31 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter ).
27 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John — but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter” ).
31 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
He immediately led him to Jesus. Jesus took one look up and said, "You're John's son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas" (or Peter, which means "Rock").
29 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas ' (which is translated Peter).
28 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
28 words
KJV
31 words
ESV
27 words
NLT
31 words
MSG
29 words
NASB
28 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:42?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:42 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 1:42 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.