NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 3:13 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
24 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
"No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man.
24 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
16 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
24 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
24 words
NASB
16 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 3:13?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 3:13 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 3:13 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.