NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
16 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 2:6 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
16 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
20 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Though he was God,he did not think of equality with Godas something to cling to.
15 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.
27 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
16 words
KJV
16 words
ESV
20 words
NLT
15 words
MSG
27 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 2:6?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 2:6 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 2:6 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.