NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
14 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:46 — 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 Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
21 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
16 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Nathanael said, "Nazareth? You've got to be kidding." But Philip said, "Come, see for yourself."
15 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Nathanael said to him, 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
14 words
KJV
21 words
ESV
18 words
NLT
16 words
MSG
15 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:46?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:46 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 1:46 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.