NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 1:24 — 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 being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary.
17 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took [Mary] as his wife,
22 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
17 words
NASB
22 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 1:24?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 1:24 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 1:24 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.