NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The Genealogy of Jesus A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
20 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 1:1 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
16 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham :
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The family tree of Jesus Christ, David's son, Abraham's son:
10 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
17 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
20 words
KJV
16 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
10 words
NASB
17 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 1:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 1:1 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 Matthew 1:1 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.