NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
20 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 4:3 — 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 when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
23 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
23 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
25 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: "Since you are God's Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread."
27 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And the tempter came and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.'
21 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
20 words
KJV
23 words
ESV
23 words
NLT
25 words
MSG
27 words
NASB
21 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 4:3?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 4:3 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 4:3 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.