NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus Begins to Preach When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.
18 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 4:12 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; <sup>cast: or, delivered up</sup>
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.
13 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
15 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
When Jesus got word that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee.
13 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee;
15 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
18 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
13 words
NLT
15 words
MSG
13 words
NASB
15 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 4:12?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 4:12 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 4:12 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.