NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
29 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 2:20 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.”
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”
28 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
"Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead."
20 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead.'
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
29 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
28 words
MSG
20 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 2:20?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 2:20 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 2:20 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.