John 3
New Life Version
Nicodemus Asks Jesus about Life
3 There was a man named Nicodemus. He was a proud religious law-keeper and a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Teacher, we know You have come from God to teach us. No one can do these powerful works You do unless God is with Him.”
Jesus Tells of the New Kind of Birth
3 Jesus said to him, “For sure, I tell you, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the holy nation of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? How can he get into his mother’s body and be born the second time?” 5 Jesus answered, “For sure, I tell you, unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit of God, he cannot get into the holy nation of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh. Whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 “Do not be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to and you hear its sound. You do not know where it comes from or where it goes. It is the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit of God.”
9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can this be?” 10 Jesus said, “Are you a teacher among the Jews and do not know these things? 11 For sure, I tell you, We are talking about things We know. We tell of what We have seen. Yet you do not take Our words to be true. 12 I tell you about things of the earth and you do not believe them. How will you believe if I tell you things about heaven?
13 “No one has gone up into heaven except the One Who came down from heaven. That One is the Son of Man *Who is in heaven. 14 As Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. 15 Then whoever puts his trust in Him will have life that lasts forever. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God’s Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to say it is guilty. He sent His Son so the world might be saved from the punishment of sin by Him. 18 Whoever puts his trust in His Son is not guilty. Whoever does not put his trust in Him is guilty already. It is because he does not put his trust in the name of the only Son of God.
19 “The Light has come into the world. And the Light is the test by which men are guilty or not. People love darkness more than the Light because the things they do are sinful. 20 Everyone who sins hates the Light. He stays away from the Light because his sin would be found out. 21 The man who does what is right comes to the Light. What he does will be seen because he has done what God wanted him to do.”
Jesus Preaches in Judea
22 After this, Jesus and His followers came into the country of Judea. He stayed with them there and baptized people.
John the Baptist Tells More about Jesus
23 John was baptizing in the town of Aenon near Salim. There was much water there and people were coming to be baptized. 24 John had not been put in prison yet.
25 Then some of the followers of John and a Jew started to argue about the religious washing of the Jewish worship. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Teacher, the One with you on the other side of the Jordan River is baptizing also. He is the One you told of. Everyone is going to Him.”
27 John said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You heard the words that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.’ 29 The man who has just been married has the bride. The friend of the man just married stands at his side and listens to him. He has joy when he hears the voice of the man just married. I am full of this joy. 30 He must become more important. I must become less important.
31 “He Who comes from above is above all. He who comes from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He Who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He tells of what He has seen and heard. But no one believes what He says. 33 Whoever receives His words proves that God is true. 34 He was sent by God and He speaks God’s Word. God gives Him all of His Spirit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who puts his trust in the Son has life that lasts forever. He who does not put his trust in the Son will not have life, but the anger of God is on him.”
John 3
New King James Version
The New Birth
3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 (A)This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for (B)no one can do these signs that You do unless (C)God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (D)unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
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 assuredly, I say to you, (E)unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is (F)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 (G)The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, (H)“How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 (I)Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and (J)you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 (K)No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man [b]who is in heaven. 14 (L)And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so (M)must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever (N)believes in Him should [c]not perish but (O)have eternal life. 16 (P)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten (Q)Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 (R)For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 (S)“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, (T)that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For (U)everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been (V)done in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them (W)and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near (X)Salim, because there was much water there. (Y)And they came and were baptized. 24 For (Z)John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, (AA)to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all (AB)are coming to Him!”
27 John answered and said, (AC)“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (AD)‘I am not the Christ,’ but, (AE)‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 (AF)He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but (AG)the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 (AH)He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 (AI)He who comes from above (AJ)is above all; (AK)he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. (AL)He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And (AM)what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony (AN)has certified that God is true. 34 (AO)For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit (AP)by measure. 35 (AQ)The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 (AR)He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the (AS)wrath of God abides on him.”
Jean 3
Louis Segond
3 Mais il y eut un homme d'entre les pharisiens, nommé Nicodème, un chef des Juifs,
2 qui vint, lui, auprès de Jésus, de nuit, et lui dit: Rabbi, nous savons que tu es un docteur venu de Dieu; car personne ne peut faire ces miracles que tu fais, si Dieu n'est avec lui.
3 Jésus lui répondit: En vérité, en vérité, je te le dis, si un homme ne naît de nouveau, il ne peut voir le royaume de Dieu.
4 Nicodème lui dit: Comment un homme peut-il naître quand il est vieux? Peut-il rentrer dans le sein de sa mère et naître?
5 Jésus répondit: En vérité, en vérité, je te le dis, si un homme ne naît d'eau et d'Esprit, il ne peut entrer dans le royaume de Dieu.
6 Ce qui est né de la chair est chair, et ce qui est né de l'Esprit est Esprit.
7 Ne t'étonne pas que je t'aie dit: Il faut que vous naissiez de nouveau.
8 Le vent souffle où il veut, et tu en entends le bruit; mais tu ne sais d'où il vient, ni où il va. Il en est ainsi de tout homme qui est né de l'Esprit.
9 Nicodème lui dit: Comment cela peut-il se faire?
10 Jésus lui répondit: Tu es le docteur d'Israël, et tu ne sais pas ces choses!
11 En vérité, en vérité, je te le dis, nous disons ce que nous savons, et nous rendons témoignage de ce que nous avons vu; et vous ne recevez pas notre témoignage.
12 Si vous ne croyez pas quand je vous ai parlé des choses terrestres, comment croirez-vous quand je vous parlerai des choses célestes?
13 Personne n'est monté au ciel, si ce n'est celui qui est descendu du ciel, le Fils de l'homme qui est dans le ciel.
14 Et comme Moïse éleva le serpent dans le désert, il faut de même que le Fils de l'homme soit élevé,
15 afin que quiconque croit en lui ait la vie éternelle.
16 Car Dieu a tant aimé le monde qu'il a donné son Fils unique, afin que quiconque croit en lui ne périsse point, mais qu'il ait la vie éternelle.
17 Dieu, en effet, n'a pas envoyé son Fils dans le monde pour qu'il juge le monde, mais pour que le monde soit sauvé par lui.
18 Celui qui croit en lui n'est point jugé; mais celui qui ne croit pas est déjà jugé, parce qu'il n'a pas cru au nom du Fils unique de Dieu.
19 Et ce jugement c'est que, la lumière étant venue dans le monde, les hommes ont préféré les ténèbres à la lumière, parce que leurs oeuvres étaient mauvaises.
20 Car quiconque fait le mal hait la lumière, et ne vient point à la lumière, de peur que ses oeuvres ne soient dévoilées;
21 mais celui qui agit selon la vérité vient à la lumière, afin que ses oeuvres soient manifestées, parce qu'elles sont faites en Dieu.
22 Après cela, Jésus, accompagné de ses disciples, se rendit dans la terre de Judée; et là il demeurait avec eux, et il baptisait.
23 Jean aussi baptisait à Énon, près de Salim, parce qu'il y avait là beaucoup d'eau; et on y venait pour être baptisé.
24 Car Jean n'avait pas encore été mis en prison.
25 Or, il s'éleva de la part des disciples de Jean une dispute avec un Juif touchant la purification.
26 Ils vinrent trouver Jean, et lui dirent: Rabbi, celui qui était avec toi au delà du Jourdain, et à qui tu as rendu témoignage, voici, il baptise, et tous vont à lui.
27 Jean répondit: Un homme ne peut recevoir que ce qui lui a été donné du ciel.
28 Vous-mêmes m'êtes témoins que j'ai dit: Je ne suis pas le Christ, mais j'ai été envoyé devant lui.
29 Celui à qui appartient l'épouse, c'est l'époux; mais l'ami de l'époux, qui se tient là et qui l'entend, éprouve une grande joie à cause de la voix de l'époux: aussi cette joie, qui est la mienne, est parfaite.
30 Il faut qu'il croisse, et que je diminue.
31 Celui qui vient d'en haut est au-dessus de tous; celui qui est de la terre est de la terre, et il parle comme étant de la terre. Celui qui vient du ciel est au-dessus de tous,
32 il rend témoignage de ce qu'il a vu et entendu, et personne ne reçoit son témoignage.
33 Celui qui a reçu son témoignage a certifié que Dieu est vrai;
34 car celui que Dieu a envoyé dit les paroles de Dieu, parce que Dieu ne lui donne pas l'Esprit avec mesure.
35 Le Père aime le Fils, et il a remis toutes choses entre ses mains.
36 Celui qui croit au Fils a la vie éternelle; celui qui ne croit pas au Fils ne verra point la vie, mais la colère de Dieu demeure sur lui.
John 3
English Standard Version
You Must Be Born Again
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named (A)Nicodemus, (B)a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] (C)by night and said to him, (D)“Rabbi, (E)we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do (F)unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is (G)born (H)again[b] he cannot (I)see the kingdom of God.” 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, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born (J)of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 (K)That which is born of the flesh is (L)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 (M)Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born (N)again.’ 8 (O)The wind[e] blows (P)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.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, (Q)“How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel (R)and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, (S)we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but (T)you[f] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 (U)No one has (V)ascended into heaven except (W)he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And (X)as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man (Y)be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes (Z)in him (AA)may have eternal life.[h]
For God So Loved the World
16 “For (AB)God so loved (AC)the world,[i] (AD)that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not (AE)perish but have eternal life. 17 For (AF)God did not send his Son into the world (AG)to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 (AH)Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (AI)believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 (AJ)And this is the judgment: (AK)the light has come into the world, and (AL)people loved the darkness rather than the light because (AM)their works were evil. 20 (AN)For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, (AO)lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever (AP)does what is true (AQ)comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and (AR)was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for (AS)John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over (AT)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, (AU)“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, (AV)to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and (AW)all are going to him.” 27 John answered, (AX)“A person cannot receive even one thing (AY)unless it is given him (AZ)from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (BA)‘I am not the Christ, but (BB)I have been sent before him.’ 29 (BC)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. (BD)The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, (BE)rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 (BF)He must increase, but I must decrease.”[j]
31 (BG)He who comes from above (BH)is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and (BI)speaks in an earthly way. (BJ)He who comes from heaven (BK)is above all. 32 (BL)He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, (BM)yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony (BN)sets his seal to this, (BO)that God is true. 34 For he whom (BP)God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit (BQ)without measure. 35 (BR)The Father loves the Son and (BS)has given all things into his hand. 36 (BT)Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; (BU)whoever does not obey the Son shall not (BV)see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Footnotes
- John 3:2 Greek him
- John 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7
- John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
- John 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here
- John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
- John 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12
- John 3:13 Some manuscripts add who is in heaven
- John 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation ends at verse 15
- John 3:16 Or For this is how God loved the world
- John 3:30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
