# John 3.1-21

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-06-13 | updated: 2026-06-13 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> **1. Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2. the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.</span> 4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5. Jesus answered, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.</span> 7. <span class="rl-speech">Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew.</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.</span> 9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10. Jesus answered and said unto him, <span class="rl-speech">Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?</span> 11. <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.</span> 12. <span class="rl-speech">If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?</span> 13. <span class="rl-speech">And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up;</span> 15. <span class="rl-speech">that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved.</span> 21. <span class="rl-speech">But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.</span>**
>
> 22. After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23. And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. (John 3:1-23, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> **1. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2. The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 3. Jesus answered him, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”</span> 4. Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” 5. Jesus answered, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.</span> 7. <span class="rl-speech">Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”</span> 9. Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” 10. Jesus answered him, <span class="rl-speech">“Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things?</span> 11. <span class="rl-speech">Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness.</span> 12. <span class="rl-speech">If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?</span> 13. <span class="rl-speech">No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,</span> 15. <span class="rl-speech">that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.</span> 21. <span class="rl-speech">But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”</span>**
>
> 22. After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23. John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. (John 3:1-23, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> **1. There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. <sup>again: or, from above</sup></span> 4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5. Jesus answered, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.</span> 7. <span class="rl-speech">Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. <sup>again: or, from above</sup></span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.</span> 9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10. Jesus answered and said unto him, <span class="rl-speech">Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?</span> 11. <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.</span> 12. <span class="rl-speech">If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?</span> 13. <span class="rl-speech">And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:</span> 15. <span class="rl-speech">That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. <sup>reproved: or, discovered</sup></span> 21. <span class="rl-speech">But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.</span>**
>
> 22. After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. (John 3:1-23, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> **1. And there was a man of the Pharisees, Nicodemus his name, a ruler of the Jews, 2. this one came unto him by night, and said to him, 'Rabbi, we have known that from God thou hast come, a teacher, for no one these signs is able to do that thou dost, if God may not be with him.' 3. Jesus answered and said to him, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;'</span> 4. Nicodemus saith unto him, 'How is a man able to be born, being old? is he able into the womb of his mother a second time to enter, and to be born?' 5. Jesus answered, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the reign of God;</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">that which hath been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which hath been born of the Spirit is spirit.</span> 7. <span class="rl-speech">'Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born from above;</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit.'</span> 9. Nicodemus answered and said to him, 'How are these things able to happen?' 10. Jesus answered and said to him, <span class="rl-speech">'Thou art the teacher of Israel, and these things thou dost not know!</span> 11. <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to thee, What we have known we speak, and what we have seen we testify, and our testimony ye do not receive;</span> 12. <span class="rl-speech">if the earthly things I said to you, and ye do not believe, how, if I shall say to you the heavenly things, will ye believe?</span> 13. <span class="rl-speech">and no one hath gone up to the heaven, except he who out of the heaven came down, the Son of Man who is in the heaven.</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">'And as Moses did lift up the serpent in the wilderness, so it behoveth the Son of Man to be lifted up,</span> 15. <span class="rl-speech">that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during,</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">for God did so love the world, that His Son, the only begotten, He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">For God did not send His Son to the world that he may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through him;</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">he who is believing in him is not judged, but he who is not believing hath been judged already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">'And this is the judgment, that the light hath come to the world, and men did love the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil;</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">for every one who is doing wicked things hateth the light, and doth not come unto the light, that his works may not be detected;</span> 21. <span class="rl-speech">but he who is doing the truth doth come to the light, that his works may be manifested, that in God they are having been wrought.'</span>**
>
> 22. After these things came Jesus and his disciples to the land of Judea, and there he did tarry with them, and was baptizing; 23. and John was also baptizing in Aenon, nigh to Salem, because there were many waters there, and they were coming and were being baptized (John 3:1-23, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_

<!-- BACKLINKS:START -->
## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Allah Predestines Child to Hell Objection Defeater](/codex/allah-predestines-child-to-hell-objection-defeater/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Argument from Love](/codex/argument-from-love/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Argument from the Addressee of Gratitude](/codex/argument-from-the-addressee-of-gratitude/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Argument from the Gift-Economy Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-gift-economy-convergence/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Argument from Transformed Lives](/codex/argument-from-transformed-lives/), via [John 3.1-8](/codex/john-3-1-8/), [John 3.3-8](/codex/john-3-3-8/), [John 3.8](/codex/john-3-8/)
- [Atheism Targets the Vulnerable (Recruitment-Dynamic Defeater)](/codex/atheism-targets-the-vulnerable-recruitment-dynamic-defeater/), via [John 3.19-20](/codex/john-3-19-20/)
- [Belief-Choice Objection Defeater](/codex/belief-choice-objection-defeater/), via [John 3.19](/codex/john-3-19/)
- [Conditional Immortality from Text-First Method](/codex/conditional-immortality-from-text-first-method/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Did Jesus Send Muhammad Dilemma Argument](/codex/did-jesus-send-muhammad-dilemma-argument/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Free Will Argument from Love](/codex/free-will-argument-from-love/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [God Created Me Knowing I Would Reject Him Objection Defeater](/codex/god-created-me-knowing-i-would-reject-him-objection-defeater/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.18-19](/codex/john-3-18-19/)
- [Jesus is Jacobs Ladder](/codex/jesus-is-jacobs-ladder/), via [John 3.14](/codex/john-3-14/), [John 3.14-15](/codex/john-3-14-15/)
- [Jesus is Not a Human Sacrifice (Defeater)](/codex/jesus-is-not-a-human-sacrifice-defeater/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Muhammad as Paraclete Refutation](/codex/muhammad-as-paraclete-refutation/), via [John 3.8](/codex/john-3-8/)
- [Necessity of the Incarnation](/codex/necessity-of-the-incarnation/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [OT vs NT God Objection Defeater](/codex/ot-vs-nt-god-objection-defeater/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Unitarian Oneness Binitarian Objection Defeater](/codex/unitarian-oneness-binitarian-objection-defeater/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)

**Concepts:**

- [100 Common Questions](/codex/100-common-questions/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.5-8](/codex/john-3-5-8/)
- [100 Verses of Compassion and God's Goodness](/codex/100-verses-of-compassion-and-gods-goodness/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Abiogenesis Under the Microscope](/codex/abiogenesis-under-the-microscope/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Akedah](/codex/genesis-22/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Arminianism](/codex/arminianism/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Atheism](/codex/atheism/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Baptism](/codex/baptism/), via [John 3.5-8](/codex/john-3-5-8/)
- [Biblical Prophecy](/codex/biblical-prophecy/), via [John 3.14-15](/codex/john-3-14-15/)
- [Calvinism](/codex/calvinism/), via [John 3.8](/codex/john-3-8/)
- [Calvinism vs Arminianism vs Molinism vs Open Theism](/codex/calvinism-vs-arminianism-vs-molinism-vs-open-theism/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Christianity](/codex/christianity/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Conditional Immortality](/codex/conditional-immortality/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.18](/codex/john-3-18/)
- [Divine Hiddenness](/codex/divine-hiddenness/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.19](/codex/john-3-19/)
- [Faith](/codex/h0530-emunah/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Father-Son Authority Asymmetry](/codex/father-son-authority-asymmetry/), via [John 3.13](/codex/john-3-13/)
- [Free Will and Determinism](/codex/free-will-and-determinism/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Gospel](/codex/g2098-euangelion/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Hell and Eternal Punishment](/codex/hell-and-eternal-punishment/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.18-19](/codex/john-3-18-19/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 3](/codex/john-3/), [John 3.3](/codex/john-3-3/)
- [Lordship Salvation](/codex/lordship-salvation/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Monergism](/codex/monergism/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Muslim Objections to the Divinity of Christ](/codex/muslim-objections-to-the-divinity-of-christ/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Names of Jehovah](/codex/names-of-jehovah/), via [John 3.14](/codex/john-3-14/)
- [Original Sin](/codex/original-sin/), via [John 3.6](/codex/john-3-6/)
- [OT vs NT God Objection](/codex/ot-vs-nt-god-objection/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Paraclete, Identity and Recipients](/codex/paraclete-identity-and-recipients/), via [John 3.5-8](/codex/john-3-5-8/)
- [Penal Substitutionary Atonement](/codex/penal-substitutionary-atonement/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Pneumatology](/codex/pneumatology/), via [John 3.6](/codex/john-3-6/)
- [Preaching to Non-Believers](/codex/preaching-to-non-believers/)
- [Predestination](/codex/predestination/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Quick Objection Responses](/codex/quick-objection-responses/), via [John 3.17](/codex/john-3-17/)
- [Reincarnation](/codex/reincarnation/), via [John 3.3](/codex/john-3-3/), [John 3.6](/codex/john-3-6/)
- [Repentance](/codex/g3341-metanoia/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Salvation Exclusivity](/codex/salvation-exclusivity/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Salvation of the Unevangelized](/codex/salvation-of-the-unevangelized/), via [John 3.18](/codex/john-3-18/)
- [Soul and Spirit, Origin and Awareness](/codex/soul-and-spirit-origin-and-awareness/), via [John 3.3-8](/codex/john-3-3-8/), [John 3.5-8](/codex/john-3-5-8/)
- [Trinity](/codex/trinity/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.5-8](/codex/john-3-5-8/)
- [Trinity Common Objections](/codex/trinity-common-objections/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [You Cant Choose Your Beliefs (Doxastic Involuntarism Objection)](/codex/you-cant-choose-your-beliefs-doxastic-involuntarism-objection/), via [John 3.18](/codex/john-3-18/)
- [Young's Literal Translation](/codex/ylt/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)

**People:**

- [Jacobus Arminius](/codex/jacobus-arminius/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [Jesus](/codex/jesus/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0025 - agapao](/codex/g0025-agapao/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.19](/codex/john-3-19/)
- [G0026 - agape](/codex/g0026-agape/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [G0165 - aion](/codex/g0165-aion/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [G0166 - aionios](/codex/g0166-aionios/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [G0487 - antallagma](/codex/g0487-antallagma/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [G0622 - apollymi](/codex/g0622-apollymi/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [G2222 - zoe](/codex/g2222-zoe/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [G2434 - hilasmos](/codex/g2434-hilasmos/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [G2889 - kosmos](/codex/g2889-kosmos/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [G3439 - monogenes](/codex/g3439-monogenes/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.18](/codex/john-3-18/)
- [G3956 - pas](/codex/g3956-pas/), via [John 3.15](/codex/john-3-15/), [John 3.15-16](/codex/john-3-15-16/), [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [G4100 - pisteuo](/codex/g4100-pisteuo/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.18](/codex/john-3-18/)
- [G4151 - pneuma](/codex/g4151-pneuma/), via [John 3.8](/codex/john-3-8/)
- [G4982 - sozo](/codex/g4982-sozo/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.17](/codex/john-3-17/)
- [G5207 - huios](/codex/g5207-huios/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [H1121 - ben](/codex/h1121-ben/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)
- [H3173 - yachid](/codex/h3173-yachid/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/), [John 3.18](/codex/john-3-18/)
- [H3820 - lev](/codex/h3820-lev/), via [John 3.1-15](/codex/john-3-1-15/)
- [H3824 - lebab](/codex/h3824-lebab/), via [John 3.3-8](/codex/john-3-3-8/)
- [H5769 - olam](/codex/h5769-olam/), via [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/)

<!-- BACKLINKS:END -->
## Notes

_Your annotations._

---

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.