NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 3:3 — 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 what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
13 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn't abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness?
29 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?
18 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
13 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
29 words
NASB
18 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 3:3?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 3:3 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 3:3 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.