NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 2:4 — 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 when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
24 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"
27 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
22 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
24 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
27 words
NASB
22 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 2:4?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 2:4 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 2:4 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.