NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 1:4 — 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 Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
12 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Ram was the father of Amminadab.Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
16 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Aram had Amminadab, Amminadab had Nahshon, Nahshon had Salmon,
9 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.
17 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
12 words
ESV
18 words
NLT
16 words
MSG
9 words
NASB
17 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 1:4?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 1:4 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 1:4 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.