NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
27 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:23 — 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 said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. <sup>Woman: Heb. Isha</sup> <sup>Man: Heb. Ish</sup>
33 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
29 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone,and flesh from my flesh!She will be called ‘woman,’because she was taken from ‘man.’”
25 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The Man said, "Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh! Name her Woman for she was made from Man."
21 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.'
27 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
27 words
KJV
33 words
ESV
29 words
NLT
25 words
MSG
21 words
NASB
27 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:23?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:23 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 2:23 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.