NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—
20 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 4:13 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
24 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
He moved from his hometown, Nazareth, to the lakeside village Capernaum, nestled at the base of the Zebulun and Naphtali hills.
21 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
21 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
20 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
24 words
MSG
21 words
NASB
21 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 4:13?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 4:13 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 4:13 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.