NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 3:7 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
13 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
14 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ.
34 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
13 words
ESV
14 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
34 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 3:7?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 3:7 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 3:7 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.