NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 3:12 — 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 man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
23 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it."
23 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
The man said, 'The woman whom You gave [to be] with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.'
21 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
23 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
23 words
NASB
21 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 3:12?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 3:12 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 3:12 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.