NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:17 — 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 of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. <sup>thou shalt surely: Heb. dying thou shalt die</sup>
37 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
28 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
20 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don't eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you're dead."
17 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.'
28 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
37 words
ESV
28 words
NLT
20 words
MSG
17 words
NASB
28 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:17?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:17 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 2:17 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.