NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
27 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 3:15 — 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 I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
28 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
27 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,and between your offspring and her offspring.He will strike your head,and you will strike his heel.”
25 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel."
21 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.'
32 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
27 words
KJV
28 words
ESV
27 words
NLT
25 words
MSG
21 words
NASB
32 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 3:15?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 3:15 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 3:15 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.