NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus Clears the Temple After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
26 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 2:12 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
24 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
After this he went down to Capernaum along with his mother, brothers, and disciples, and stayed several days.
18 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and [His] brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
26 words
KJV
24 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
18 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 2:12?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 2:12 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 2:12 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.