NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.”
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:50 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
25 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.”
27 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Jesus said, "You've become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven't seen anything yet!
25 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Jesus answered and said to him, 'Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.'
29 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
25 words
NLT
27 words
MSG
25 words
NASB
29 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:50?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:50 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 1:50 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.