NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 3:23 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
21 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.
26 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
So God expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made.
25 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.
21 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
21 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
26 words
MSG
25 words
NASB
21 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 3:23?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 3:23 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 3:23 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.