NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
26 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 1:51 — 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 saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
30 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
29 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth. ”
39 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Before this is over you're going to see heaven open and God's angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again."
22 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And He said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'
30 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
26 words
KJV
30 words
ESV
29 words
NLT
39 words
MSG
22 words
NASB
30 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 1:51?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 1:51 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 1:51 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.