NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 3:5 — 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 went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
16 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
17 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action.
17 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;
17 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
16 words
ESV
17 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
17 words
NASB
17 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 3:5?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 3:5 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 3:5 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.