NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus Changes Water to Wine On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 2:1 — 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 the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there.
18 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
18 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 2:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 2:1 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 2:1 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.