NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Abraham Justified by Faith What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 4:1 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
16 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
15 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God?
20 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
So how do we fit what we know of Abraham, our first father in the faith, into this new way of looking at things?
24 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
15 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
16 words
ESV
15 words
NLT
20 words
MSG
24 words
NASB
15 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 4:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 4:1 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 4:1 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.