Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a](A)

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.(B) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.(C) You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d](D)

“How can this be?”(E) Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,”(F) said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know,(G) and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.(H) 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven(I) except the one who came from heaven(J)—the Son of Man.[e](K) 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,(L) so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f](M) 15 that everyone who believes(N) may have eternal life in him.”[g](O)

16 For God so loved(P) the world that he gave(Q) his one and only Son,(R) that whoever believes(S) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(T)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. John 3:3 The Greek for again also means from above; also in verse 7.
  2. John 3:6 Or but spirit
  3. John 3:7 The Greek is plural.
  4. John 3:8 The Greek for Spirit is the same as that for wind.
  5. John 3:13 Some manuscripts Man, who is in heaven
  6. John 3:14 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  7. John 3:15 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 21.

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.

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?

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.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

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.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 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.

Read full chapter

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me(A) has eternal life(B) and will not be judged(C) but has crossed over from death to life.(D) 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come(E) when the dead will hear(F) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life(G) in himself.

Read full chapter

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

Read full chapter

40 yet you refuse to come to me(A) to have life.

Read full chapter

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Read full chapter

27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures(A) to eternal life,(B) which the Son of Man(C) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal(D) of approval.”

Read full chapter

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Read full chapter

33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven(A) and gives life to the world.”

Read full chapter

33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Read full chapter

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am(A) the bread of life.(B) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes(C) in me will never be thirsty.(D)

Read full chapter

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Read full chapter

40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son(A) and believes in him shall have eternal life,(B) and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Read full chapter

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Read full chapter

47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.(A)

Read full chapter

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Read full chapter

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,(A) and have it to the full.(B)

Read full chapter

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Read full chapter