NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 1:13 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
12 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor,
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud.Abiud was the father of Eliakim.Eliakim was the father of Azor.
16 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Zerubbabel had Abiud, Abiud had Eliakim, Eliakim had Azor,
9 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.
17 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
12 words
ESV
18 words
NLT
16 words
MSG
9 words
NASB
17 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 1:13?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 1:13 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 Matthew 1:13 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.