NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
26 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 1:19 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
24 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
26 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
17 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
26 words
KJV
24 words
ESV
20 words
NLT
26 words
MSG
17 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 1:19?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 1:19 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 1:19 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.