NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
18 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 19:26 — 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 beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
20 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
18 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Jesus looked hard at them and said,"No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."
31 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And looking at [them] Jesus said to them,'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
18 words
KJV
20 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
18 words
MSG
31 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 19:26?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 19:26 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 19:26 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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