NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
26 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 3:4 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”
27 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
"How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?"
33 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?'
29 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
26 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
27 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
33 words
NASB
29 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 3:4?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 3:4 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 3:4 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.