| God So Loved the World |
How is your favorite Bible passage translated in versions other than theone which you normally use? In this survey, John 3: 16 is considered, using sixty-eightversions. No two that are quoted are completely alike. The difference may only be one wordwith some. When two or more versions are exactly the same, reference is made to another onewhich is listed. Perhaps, as you read this listing, you will find some whose wording thatyou like and others that you find awkward. A few footnotes and a summary conclude thecomparison.
| Versions Compared |
| John3: 16 |
| AAT | God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son so that whoeverbelieves in Him might not perish but have everlasting life. |
| AB | For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up Hisonly-begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on) Himshall not perish -- come to destruction, be lost - but have eternal (everlasting) life. |
| AIV | For God so loved the world that God gave God's only Child, so that everyone who believesin that Child may not perish but may have eternal life. |
| ANT | For God loved the world so dearly as to give his Only-begotten Son, so that all whobelieve in him should not perish but have Eternal Life. |
| BNT | For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believesin him should not have destruction but eternal life. |
| CENT | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes onhim, should not perish, but may have everlasting life. |
| CEV | God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone whohas faith in him will have eternal life and never die. |
| CJB | For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone whotrusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. |
| CLNT | For thus God loves the world, so that He gives His only-begotten Son, that everyone who isbelieving in Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian. |
| CNT | Yes, God had such love for the world that he gave up his only Son, so that anyonebelieving in him might not perish but lay hold of eternal life. |
| CTNT | For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever trusts in himshould not perish, but have eternal life. |
| DHB | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeson him may not perish, but have life eternal. |
| DRB | For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believethin him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. |
| EBR | For God so loved the world, That his Only Begotten Son he gave, -- That whosoever believeth on him Might not perish, But have life age-abiding. |
| EDW | For GOD so loved the WORLD, that he gave his SON, the ONLY-BEGOTTEN, that EVERY ONEBELIEVING into him may not perish, but obtain aionian LIFE. |
| EVD | Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. Gave gave his Son so thatevery person that believes in him would not be lost, but have life forever. |
| GW | God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in himwill not die but have eternal life. |
| HBME | For God so loved the world that He gave the only-begotten Son, so that every one believingin Him should not be lost, but have eternal life. |
| HBRV | (See Standard American Edition, Revised Version.) |
| IB | For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that everyone believinginto Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. |
| IV | For God so loved the world, that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believethon him should not perish; but have everlasting life. |
| KJV | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believethin him should not perish, but have everlasting life. |
| KLNT | So marked, indeed, has been God's love for the world that he gave his only-begotten Son:everyone who believes in him is not to perish, but to have eternal life. |
| KTC | God so loved the world, that he gave up his only-begotten Son, so that those who believein him may not perish, but have eternal life. |
| LB | For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes inhim shall not perish but have eternal life. Footnote: [Only], Or, "the unique Son of God." |
| LBP | For God so loved the world that he even gave his only begotten Son, so that whoeverbelieves in him should not perish, but have eternal life. |
| MCT | God so loved the world that he gave his unique Son, in order that everyone who believesin him might not perish, but may have eternal life. Footnote: The word "begotten" in John 1: 14, 18; 3: 16, 18; Hebrews 11: 17;1 John 4: 9 is eliminated (1) for the sake of accuracy and (2) for the sake of the honor thatbelongs to Isaac and to Jesus. ... . In none of the six citations mentioned above did theinfallible Holy Spirit cause monos gennetheis, only begotten, to be written, but inevery instance the word written is monogenes, the only one of a kind, the unique one. |
| MNT | For God loved the world so dearly that he gave up his only Son, so that everyone whobelieves in him may have eternal life, instead of perishing. |
| MRB | (See Standard American Edition, Revised Version.) |
| MSNT | For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trustsin Him may not perish but may have the Life of the Ages. |
| NAB | For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes inhim might not perish but might have eternal life. |
| NAS | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes inHim should not perish, but have eternal life. |
| NBV | For God so loved the world, that he gave up his only-begotten Son, so that those whobelieve in him may not perish, but have eternal life. Footnote: Christ is the unique Son of God, eternally One with the Father and theSpirit, yet truly man in His perfect humanity. |
| NCV | God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes inhim may not be lost, but have eternal life. |
| NEB | God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, that everyone who has faith inhim may not die but have eternal life. |
| NET | For God loved the world so much that He gave His one-and-only Son, so that everyone whobelieves in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Footnote: The Greek word for "one-and-only" can also mean "one-of-a-kind"("unique") or "only-begotten." |
| NIV | For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in himshall not perish but have eternal life. |
| NJB | For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. |
| NKJ | For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes inHim should not perish but have everlasting life. |
| NLT | For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in himwill not perish but have eternal life. |
| NLV | For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God's Sonwill not be lost but will have life that lasts forever. |
| NNT | God loved men so much that he gave up his only-begotten Son for them. For whoever believesin him will not perish, but will find eternal life. |
| NRS | For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes inhim may not perish but may have eternal life. |
| NSNT | For God so loved the world that He gave His only born Son, that all who believe on Himshall not die, but have everlasting life. |
| NWT | For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyoneexercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. |
| ONT | (See Authentic New Testament.) Footnote: While much that was in his documentary source (the Memoirs of John the Priest)has been adapted by the Greek author to bring the text into line with his ideas, as here, somepassages, largely by way of commentary, stand out as his distinctive contribution. Wheneverpossible attention has been drawn to these, as in this instance, and some have been placedbelow the main body of the text and in slightly smaller type. The present passage is John3: 16-21. [This passage has been so placed by the translator.] |
| PRS | For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believesin him should not be lost, but should have eternal life. |
| REB | God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that everyone who has faith in him maynot perish but have eternal life. |
| RNT | For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that every one who believes in himmay not perish, but have life eternal. |
| RSV | For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shouldnot perish but have eternal life. |
| SARV | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believethon him should not perish, but have eternal life. |
| SBK | (See Revised Standard Version.) |
| SGAT | For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that no one who believes inhim should be lost, but that they should all have eternal life. |
| SNB | For YAHVAH so loved the world, that His Only Begotten Son He gave, that whosoeverbelieveth on Him might not perish, but have life age-abiding. |
| SSBE | For Yahweh so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believeson him should not perish, but have eternal life. |
| SV | This is how God loved the world: God gave up an only son, so that every one who believesin him will not be lost but have real life. |
| TBR | (See Revised Standard Version.) |
| TCNT | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that every one who believes in himmay not be lost, but have Immortal Life. |
| TDB | (See King James Version.) |
| TEV | For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believesin him may not die but have eternal life. |
| TJB | Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. |
| TM | This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this iswhy: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole andlasting life. |
| WAS | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that every one who believeson Him should not perish, but have eternal life; ... . |
| WET | For in such a manner did God love the world, inasmuch that His Son, the uniquely-begottenOne, He gave, in order that everyone who places his trust in Him may not perish but may behaving life eternal. |
| WMF | God so loved the people of the world that he sent his only Son, affirming that whoeverbelieved on Him would not perish, but would have eternal life. |
| WNT | For God loved the world so much that He gave His Only Son, so that anyone who trusts inHim may never perish but have eternal life. |
| WTNT | God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son for the intent, that none that believein him, should perish: but should have everlasting life. |
| YLR | ..., for God did so love the world, that His Son -- the only begotten -- He gave, thatevery one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during. |
| Commentary |
In the sixty-eight versions used, there are sixty-two ways of writing thisverse. On close examination, it will be seen that there is very little difference in meaningamong most of them. A few show a little difference.
If the meaning of what is said is the important factor, most of the versionsmay be considered as being correct. If the exact translation of the words from the originalGreek is the important factor, most of the versions are wrong. Which version, then, is thecorrect one?
Some Christians state that God quoted directly to the original author. If so,something has happened by the time that the current translators completed their work. SomeChristians state that the Bible is inerrant. Does this mean inerrant in thought or in exactwording? Some Christians question whether what the authors of the four Gospels wrote ishistorically accurate or is descriptively created.
This passage is a favorite for memorization. It also contains an importanttheological message. There are many ways of quoting it without distorting its meaning. Thus,those who claim to be Christians need to avoid their theological biases as they read thisverse in order to comprehend it.