NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.
13 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 2:24 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
13 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people.
11 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
But Jesus didn't entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were.
19 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,
16 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
13 words
KJV
13 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
11 words
MSG
19 words
NASB
16 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 2:24?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 2:24 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 2:24 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.