NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
10 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 1:19 — 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 the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
10 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
11 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.
10 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
It was evening, it was morning— Day Four.
8 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
10 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
10 words
KJV
10 words
ESV
11 words
NLT
10 words
MSG
8 words
NASB
10 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 1:19?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 1:19 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 Genesis 1:19 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.