NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
30 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 3:3 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
32 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
29 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
37 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.' "
26 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.''
31 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
30 words
KJV
32 words
ESV
29 words
NLT
37 words
MSG
26 words
NASB
31 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 3:3?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 3:3 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 3:3 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.