NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 3:19 — 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 this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
24 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
26 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.
28 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
"This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God.
34 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
26 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
24 words
ESV
26 words
NLT
28 words
MSG
34 words
NASB
26 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 3:19?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 3:19 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 3:19 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.