NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
13 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 4:19 — 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 he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
15 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
15 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
18 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass."
31 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'
15 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
13 words
KJV
15 words
ESV
15 words
NLT
18 words
MSG
31 words
NASB
15 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 4:19?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 4:19 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 4:19 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.