NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
25 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:3 — 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 God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. <sup>created: Heb. created to make</sup>
30 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
25 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
24 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
God blessed the seventh day. He made it a Holy Day Because on that day he rested from his work, all the creating God had done.
26 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
25 words
KJV
30 words
ESV
25 words
NLT
24 words
MSG
26 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:3?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:3 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 2:3 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.