NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
29 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 3:3 — 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 we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
23 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh —
25 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,
33 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it. We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—
40 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
for we are the [true] circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,
25 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
29 words
KJV
23 words
ESV
25 words
NLT
33 words
MSG
40 words
NASB
25 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 3:3?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 3:3 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 3:3 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.