NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Colossians 2:12 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
29 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
33 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
If it's an initiation ritual you're after, you've already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ.
45 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
29 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
29 words
NLT
33 words
MSG
45 words
NASB
29 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Colossians 2:12?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Colossians 2:12 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 Colossians 2:12 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.