NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
14 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 1:22 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
20 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
14 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
12 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term:
10 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
16 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
14 words
KJV
20 words
ESV
14 words
NLT
12 words
MSG
10 words
NASB
16 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 1:22?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 1:22 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 1:22 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.