NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
16 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 3:2 — 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 woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.
15 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden.
18 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
The woman said to the serpent, 'From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
18 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
16 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
15 words
MSG
18 words
NASB
18 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 3:2?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 3:2 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 3:2 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.