NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
20 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
James 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
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind : <sup>kind: Gr. nature</sup> <sup>mankind: Gr. nature of man</sup>
34 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
21 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,
11 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
This is scary: You can tame a tiger,
8 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
24 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
20 words
KJV
34 words
ESV
21 words
NLT
11 words
MSG
8 words
NASB
24 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for James 3:7?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers James 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 James 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.