NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
27 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 2:12 — 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 as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
28 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
28 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.
36 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
If you sin without knowing what you're doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you're doing, that's a different story entirely.
28 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
28 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
27 words
KJV
28 words
ESV
28 words
NLT
36 words
MSG
28 words
NASB
28 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 2:12?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 2:12 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 2:12 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.