NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.
24 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 2:23 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
26 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him.
33 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
24 words
KJV
26 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
33 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 2:23?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 2:23 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 2:23 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.