NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
24 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
John 3:5 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the 'wind hovering over the water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it's not possible to enter God's kingdom.
41 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
25 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
24 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
41 words
NASB
25 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for John 3:5?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers John 3:5 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 3:5 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.