NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The Baptism of Jesus Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 3:13 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
15 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
14 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him.
16 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan [coming] to John, to be baptized by him.
16 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
14 words
ESV
15 words
NLT
14 words
MSG
16 words
NASB
16 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 3:13?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 3:13 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 3:13 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.