NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 3:21 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
18 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
17 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
14 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
God made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them.
12 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
15 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
18 words
ESV
17 words
NLT
14 words
MSG
12 words
NASB
15 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 3:21?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 3:21 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 3:21 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.