NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?
12 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 3:6 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
God forbid : for then how shall God judge the world?
11 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
11 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?
18 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn't do the straightening?
25 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?
12 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
12 words
KJV
11 words
ESV
11 words
NLT
18 words
MSG
25 words
NASB
12 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 3:6?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 3:6 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 3:6 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.