NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
24 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 19:14 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
23 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
25 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
But Jesus intervened:"Let the children alone, don't prevent them from coming to me. God's kingdom is made up of people like these."
22 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
But Jesus said,'Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'
25 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
24 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
23 words
NLT
25 words
MSG
22 words
NASB
25 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 19:14?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 19:14 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 19:14 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.
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