NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 4:15 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
21 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles —
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
20 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, road to the sea, over Jordan, Galilee, crossroads for the nations.
17 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES--
22 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
21 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
20 words
MSG
17 words
NASB
22 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 4:15?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 4:15 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 4:15 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.