NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
26 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 3:7 — 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 eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. <sup>aprons: or, things to gird about</sup>
31 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
24 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves.
23 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
27 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
26 words
KJV
31 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
24 words
MSG
23 words
NASB
27 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 3:7?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 3:7 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 3:7 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.