NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.
18 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 4:10 — 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 he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. <sup>blood: Heb. bloods</sup>
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But the LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
19 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
God said, "What have you done! The voice of your brother's blood is calling to me from the ground.
19 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
18 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
19 words
MSG
19 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 4:10?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 4:10 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 4:10 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.