NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 3:2 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
11 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they're interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them.
24 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;
14 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
11 words
ESV
18 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
24 words
NASB
14 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 3:2?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 3:2 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 3:2 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.