NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.
16 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:10 — 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 a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches.
17 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
A river flows out of Eden to water the garden and from there divides into four rivers.
17 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers.
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
16 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
18 words
NLT
17 words
MSG
17 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:10?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:10 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 2:10 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.