NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 2:10 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
23 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
20 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
18 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ,
23 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
23 words
ESV
20 words
NLT
18 words
MSG
23 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 2:10?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 2:10 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 2:10 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.