NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Favoritism Forbidden My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
James 2:1 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
25 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith.
16 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with [an attitude of] personal favoritism.
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
25 words
MSG
16 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for James 2:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers James 2:1 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 James 2:1 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.