NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
24 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:2 — 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 on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
28 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
28 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.
18 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
By the seventh day God had finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from all his work.
19 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
27 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
24 words
KJV
28 words
ESV
28 words
NLT
18 words
MSG
19 words
NASB
27 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:2?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:2 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 2:2 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.