NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:18 — 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 LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. <sup>meet: Heb. as before him</sup>
29 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”
26 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion."
18 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.'
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
29 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
26 words
MSG
18 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:18?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:18 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 2:18 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.