NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 2:18 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
25 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“A cry was heard in Ramah —weeping and great mourning.Rachel weeps for her children,refusing to be comforted,for they are dead.”
20 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and much lament. Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace, Her children gone, dead and buried.
25 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE.'
26 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
25 words
NLT
20 words
MSG
25 words
NASB
26 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 2:18?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 2:18 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 2:18 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.