NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 2:8 — 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 being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. <sup>fashion: or habit</sup>
25 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
he humbled himself in obedience to Godand died a criminal’s death on a cross.
14 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.
40 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
23 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
25 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
14 words
MSG
40 words
NASB
23 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 2:8?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 2:8 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 2:8 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.