NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Genesis 4:2 — 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 she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. <sup>Abel: Heb. Hebel</sup> <sup>a keeper: Heb. a feeder</sup>
30 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.
24 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Then she had another baby, Abel. Abel was a herdsman and Cain a farmer.
14 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
23 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
30 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
24 words
MSG
14 words
NASB
23 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Genesis 4:2?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Genesis 4:2 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 4:2 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.