Walk into a bookstore or search online, and you’ll see it: dozens of different Bible versions. NIV. ESV. KJV. NLT. MSG. It can be overwhelming. So why are there so many—and how are they different?
Let’s make sense of it.
One Message, Many Translations
First, it’s important to know: all major Bible versions are based on the same original texts—ancient manuscripts written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
The different “versions” we see today are translations—ways of bringing those ancient words into modern language.
But just like translating poetry or proverbs, it’s not always simple. Translators have to decide how to handle things like:
Ancient idioms that don’t make sense today
Cultural references from thousands of years ago
The best balance between accuracy and readability
That’s why there are different versions—not because they disagree, but because they’re helping different people understand the same truth in different ways.
For example, let’s look at John 3:16, one of the most well-known verses in the Bible:
King James Version (KJV)
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.
New International Version (NIV)
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.
New Living Translation (NLT)
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.
The Message (MSG)
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.
Each version tells the same story: God loved humanity enough to send Jesus so that anyone who believes in Him can receive eternal life. But the tone, wording, and clarity shift depending on the reader’s background.
The KJV uses older, formal English.
The NIV balances clarity and faithfulness to original wording.
The NLT focuses on making it easy to read.
The MSG is very conversational and poetic.
They don’t contradict—they complement.
Two Main Translation Styles
Most Bible versions fall somewhere between two translation approaches:
Word-for-word (formal equivalence)These try to stay as close as possible to the original wording.Examples: ESV, NASB, KJV
Thought-for-thought (dynamic equivalence)These aim to capture the original meaning in smoother modern language.Examples: NIV, NLT, GNT
Some versions (like The Message) go even further, paraphrasing Scripture in a poetic or conversational style to help readers feel the emotional weight of the text.
Which Version Is “Right”?
Christians believe the original Scriptures were inspired by God. Translations are a faithful attempt to preserve that message across languages and generations.
So instead of asking which version is right, a better question is:
Which version helps you understand the message best?
Many people even use multiple versions for study. A formal version helps with accuracy. A dynamic version helps with clarity. Or even a bible with two or more translations side by side called "parallel bibles" for contextual and academic study. Together, they can give a fuller picture.
Has Anything Been Left Out?
Sometimes people wonder if verses have been “removed” in newer translations. In most cases, the difference is due to older manuscripts being discovered since the time of early English Bibles like the King James Version (KJV).
Modern scholars work from the earliest and most reliable sources available—so changes are usually about getting closer to the original, not taking things away. There are examples of some verses being removed with the notations that it was "repetitive" but a footnote is always included on that page to inform the reader if that happened. The more you read and more translations you befriend, you learn what happened and what belongs where.
Bottom Line
There are many Bible versions because people come from different cultures, reading levels, and backgrounds. But the core message of Christianity remains the same:
God created us
Jesus came to rescue us
We are invited into new life
If one version helps you grasp that better, it’s doing its job.
Don’t let the options overwhelm you. Just pick one, start reading, and let the message speak.