Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is (A)born (B)again[a] he cannot (C)see the kingdom of God.” 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?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born (D)of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (E)That which is born of the flesh is (F)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[b] (G)Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[c] must be born (H)again.’ (I)The wind[d] blows (J)where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said to him, (K)“How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel (L)and yet you do not understand these things?

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7
  2. John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
  3. John 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here
  4. John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit

In reply, he said to him, Omein, omein, I say to you, unless someone is born anew [born again, Yn 1:13; Dt 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; Isa 52:1; Ezek 44:7,9], he is not able to see the Malchut Hashem.

Rav Nakdimon says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, How is a man, being old, able to be born? Surely he is not able into the womb of immo a second time to enter and to be born?

In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Omein, omein, I say to you: unless someone is born of mayim (TEHILLIM 36:10 [9]) and Ruach Hakodesh [YECHEZEL 36:25-27; 37:14], he is not able to enter into the Malchut Hashem [Lk 17:21].

That which is born of basar is basar, and that which is born of the Ruach is ruach.

Do not marvel that I said to you, It is necessary for you to be born again, born anew.

The ruach (wind, Spirit) blows where it wishes, and the sound of it you hear, but you do not have da’as of where it comes from and where it goes [KOHELET 11:5]; so it is with everyone having been born of the Ruach Hakodesh. [YECHEZKEL 37:9]

In reply, Rav Nakdimon said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, How is it possible for these things to happen?

10 In reply, he said to him, You hold the teaching office of rabbi, of moreh b’Yisroel and of these things you do not have da’as?

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