NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
16 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Matthew 4:9 — 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 saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
17 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Then he said, "They're yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours."
20 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
and he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.'
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
16 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
17 words
MSG
20 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Matthew 4:9?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 4:9 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 4:9 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.