NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 2:23 — 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 he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
28 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
24 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
On arrival, he settled in the village of Nazareth. This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
24 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. [This was] to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'
25 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
28 words
NLT
24 words
MSG
24 words
NASB
25 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 2:23?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 2:23 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 2:23 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.