NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 1:23 — 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 changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
25 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
20 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.
24 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
26 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
25 words
ESV
20 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
24 words
NASB
26 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 1:23?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 1:23 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 Romans 1:23 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.