NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
23 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:24 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.
16 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
23 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
16 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:24?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:24 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 2:24 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.