NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh.
32 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:21 — 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 caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
29 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
29 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.
32 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh.
22 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.
31 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
32 words
KJV
29 words
ESV
29 words
NLT
32 words
MSG
22 words
NASB
31 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:21?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:21 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 2:21 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.