NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
20 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 2:16 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
18 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
17 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And this is the message I proclaim — that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.
40 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
18 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
20 words
KJV
18 words
ESV
17 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
40 words
NASB
18 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 2:16?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 2:16 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 2:16 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.