NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?
13 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 3:10 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
17 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?
15 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Jesus said, "You're a respected teacher of Israel and you don't know these basics?
14 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
18 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
13 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
17 words
NLT
15 words
MSG
14 words
NASB
18 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 3:10?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 3:10 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 3:10 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.