NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Thanksgiving and Prayer I thank my God every time I remember you.
12 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 1:3 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, <sup>remembrance: or, mention</sup>
12 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
10 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
12 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God.
15 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
10 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
12 words
KJV
12 words
ESV
10 words
NLT
12 words
MSG
15 words
NASB
10 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 1:3?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 1:3 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 Philippians 1:3 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.