NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
23 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 4:4 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
26 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."
23 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
But He answered and said, 'It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.''
27 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
23 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
26 words
MSG
23 words
NASB
27 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 4:4?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 4:4 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 4:4 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.