NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 2:18 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
20 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
25 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
But the Jews were upset. They asked, "What credentials can you present to justify this?"
15 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
The Jews then said to Him, 'What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?'
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
20 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
25 words
MSG
15 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 2:18?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 2:18 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 2:18 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.