NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 1:21 — 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 she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. <sup>JESUS: that is, Saviour, Heb</sup>
28 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—'God saves'—because he will save his people from their sins."
26 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.'
21 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
28 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
22 words
MSG
26 words
NASB
21 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 1:21?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 1:21 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 1:21 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.