NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Adam and Eve This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens—
27 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:4 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
28 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
27 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth. The Man and Woman in Eden When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
29 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
This is the story of how it all started, of Heaven and Earth when they were created.
17 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.
25 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
27 words
KJV
28 words
ESV
27 words
NLT
29 words
MSG
17 words
NASB
25 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:4?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:4 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 2:4 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.