NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 1:2 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
14 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Abraham was the father of Isaac.Isaac was the father of Jacob.Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob, Jacob had Judah and his brothers,
12 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
14 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
12 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 1:2?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 1:2 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 1:2 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.