# John 3.3 **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, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.** > > 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, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God! (John 3:1-5, 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, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”** > > 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, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. (John 3:1-5, 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, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. again: or, from above** > > 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, 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. (John 3:1-5, 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, '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;'** > > 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, '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; (John 3:1-5, 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 - [G932 - basileia](/codex/g932-basileia/), *basileia* (Strong's G932). Also appears in: [Matthew 4.23](/codex/matthew-4-23/), [Matthew 5.17-20](/codex/matthew-5-17-20/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/). - [G2316 - theos](/codex/g2316-theos/), *theos* (Strong's G2316). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.23](/codex/matthew-1-23/), [Matthew 3.16](/codex/matthew-3-16/), [Matthew 5.9](/codex/matthew-5-9/). - [G2424 - Iesous](/codex/g2424-iesous/), *Iesous* (Strong's G2424). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.16](/codex/matthew-1-16/), [Matthew 1.18](/codex/matthew-1-18/). ## 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. ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [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/) **Concepts:** - [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/) - [Psychology of Lowered Defenses](/codex/psychology-of-lowered-defenses/), via [John 3.1-10](/codex/john-3-1-10/) - [Soul and Spirit, Origin and Awareness](/codex/soul-and-spirit-origin-and-awareness/), via [John 3.3-8](/codex/john-3-3-8/) **Lexicon:** - [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/)