NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 2:16 — 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 said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
20 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
26 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
He told the dove merchants, "Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a shopping mall!"
20 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
and to those who were selling the doves He said, 'Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business.'
23 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
20 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
26 words
MSG
20 words
NASB
23 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 2:16?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 2:16 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 2:16 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.