NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 2:8 — 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 planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
20 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it.
20 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.
21 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
20 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
20 words
NASB
21 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 2:8?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 2:8 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 2:8 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.