NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
29 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:20 — 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 Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. <sup>gave: Heb. called</sup>
36 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.
33 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.
28 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion.
22 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
34 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
29 words
KJV
36 words
ESV
33 words
NLT
28 words
MSG
22 words
NASB
34 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:20?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:20 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 2:20 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.