NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 4:7 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. <sup>tempt: or, try, or, put to trial, or, proof</sup>
25 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’ ”
15 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't you dare test the Lord your God."
15 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Jesus said to him, 'On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.''
22 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
25 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
15 words
MSG
15 words
NASB
22 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 4:7?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 4:7 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 4:7 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.