NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
27 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 2:15 — 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 was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
31 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
27 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”
24 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
They lived in Egypt until Herod's death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: "I called my son out of Egypt."
22 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
He remained there until the death of Herod. [This was] to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.'
29 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
27 words
KJV
31 words
ESV
27 words
NLT
24 words
MSG
22 words
NASB
29 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 2:15?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 2:15 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 2:15 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.