NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
26 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 3:16 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
25 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
29 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
40 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
25 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
26 words
KJV
25 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
29 words
MSG
40 words
NASB
25 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 3:16?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 3:16 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 3:16 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.