NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 3:13 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
21 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
20 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.Their tongues are filled with lies.”“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mud slides. Every word they speak is tinged with poison.
19 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,' 'THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS';
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
21 words
ESV
20 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
19 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 3:13?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 3:13 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 3:13 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.