NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
24 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 3:11 — 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 he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
25 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
23 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”
25 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
God said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?"
21 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?'
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
24 words
KJV
25 words
ESV
23 words
NLT
25 words
MSG
21 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 3:11?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 3:11 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 3:11 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.