NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
16 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 2:11 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
18 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.
15 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
20 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
18 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
16 words
KJV
18 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
15 words
MSG
20 words
NASB
18 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 2:11?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 2:11 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 2:11 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.