NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.
23 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 3:23 — 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 John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized
20 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.
27 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
At the same time, John was baptizing over at Aenon near Salim, where water was abundant.
16 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and [people] were coming and were being baptized--
22 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
23 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
20 words
NLT
27 words
MSG
16 words
NASB
22 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 3:23?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 3:23 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 3:23 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.