# John 3.1

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-04-27 | updated: 2026-04-27 -->

**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> (John 3:1-3, 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> (John 3:1-3, 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> (John 3:1-3, 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> (John 3:1-3, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G3686 - onoma](/codex/g3686-onoma/), *onoma* (Strong's G3686). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.21](/codex/matthew-1-21/), [Matthew 1.23](/codex/matthew-1-23/), [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/).

## 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.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Argument from Transformed Lives](/codex/argument-from-transformed-lives/), via [John 3.1-8](/codex/john-3-1-8/)

**Concepts:**

- [Psychology of Lowered Defenses](/codex/psychology-of-lowered-defenses/), via [John 3.1-10](/codex/john-3-1-10/)

**Lexicon:**

- [H3820 - lev](/codex/h3820-lev/), via [John 3.1-15](/codex/john-3-1-15/)

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