NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 3:14 — 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 as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
20 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—
34 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
20 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
34 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 3:14?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 3:14 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 3:14 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.