NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
20 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 3:1 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
14 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
15 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.
14 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews.
15 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
15 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
20 words
KJV
14 words
ESV
15 words
NLT
14 words
MSG
15 words
NASB
15 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 3:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 3:1 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 3:1 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.