NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
18 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 3:20 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: <sup>conversation: or, we live or conduct ourselves as citizens of heaven, or, for obtaining heaven</sup>
33 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
17 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
24 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ,
24 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
18 words
KJV
33 words
ESV
17 words
NLT
24 words
MSG
24 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 3:20?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 3:20 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 3:20 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.