NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 1:8 — 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 Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
12 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah,
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat.Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.
16 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Asa had Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat had Joram, Joram had Uzziah,
9 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.
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 1:8?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 1:8 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 1:8 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.