NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
23 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 4:11 — 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 now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
21 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.
15 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
From now on you'll get nothing but curses from this ground; you'll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother.
30 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
20 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
23 words
KJV
21 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
15 words
MSG
30 words
NASB
20 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 4:11?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 4:11 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 4:11 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.