NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 4:16 — 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 people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up .
26 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
27 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
the people who sat in darknesshave seen a great light.And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,a light has shined.”
25 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
People sitting out their lives in the dark saw a huge light; Sitting in that dark, dark country of death, they watched the sun come up.
26 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.'
28 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
26 words
ESV
27 words
NLT
25 words
MSG
26 words
NASB
28 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 4:16?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 4:16 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 4:16 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.