NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 3:1 — 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 those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
13 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
13 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was,
17 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called "the Baptizer," was preaching in the desert country of Judea.
20 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
15 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
13 words
ESV
13 words
NLT
17 words
MSG
20 words
NASB
15 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 3:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 3:1 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 3:1 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.