Parallel Verses
An Understandable Version
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born [again] after he is [already] old? He cannot enter his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?"
New American Standard Bible
Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
King James Version
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?
Holman Bible
“But how can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
International Standard Version
Nicodemus asked him, "How can a person be born when he is old? He can't go back into his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?"
A Conservative Version
Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be begotten, being old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's belly, and be born?
American Standard Version
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?
Amplified
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?”
Anderson New Testament
Nicodemus said to him: How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb the second time, and be born?
Bible in Basic English
Nicodemus said to him, How is it possible for a man to be given birth when he is old? Is he able to go into his mother's body a second time and come to birth again?
Common New Testament
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?"
Daniel Mace New Testament
Nicodemus replied, how can a man be born when he is old? can he enter into his mother, and be born a second time?
Darby Translation
Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be born being old? can he enter a second time into the womb of his mother and be born?
Godbey New Testament
Nicodemus says to him; How is a man able to be born, being old? whether he is able to enter the second time into the womb of his mother, and be born?
Goodspeed New Testament
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb over again and be born?"
John Wesley New Testament
Nicodemus saith 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?
Julia Smith Translation
Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be born, being an old man? he cannot come in a second time to his mother's belly, and be born.
King James 2000
Nicodemus said 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?
Lexham Expanded Bible
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born [when he] is an old man? He is not able to enter into his mother's womb for the second time and be born, [can he]?"
Modern King James verseion
Nicodemus said to 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?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Nicodemus said unto him, "How can a man be born, when he is old? Can he enter into his mother's womb and be born again?"
Moffatt New Testament
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb over again and be born?"
Montgomery New Testament
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus replied; "Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
NET Bible
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time, can he?"
New Heart English Bible
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?"
Noyes New Testament
Nicodemus saith to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mothers womb a second time, and be born?
Sawyer New Testament
Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he become an unborn infant of his mother a second time, and be born?
The Emphasized Bible
Nicodemus saith unto him - How, can a man be born, when he is, old? Can he, into the womb of his mother, a second time, enter, and be born?
Thomas Haweis New Testament
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?
Twentieth Century New Testament
"How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?"
Webster
Nicodemus saith to 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?
Weymouth New Testament
"How is it possible," Nicodemus asked, "for a man to be born when he is old? Can he a second time enter his mother's womb and be born?"
Williams New Testament
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot again enter his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
World English Bible
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?"
Worrell New Testament
Nicodemus says to Him, "How can a man he born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and he born?"
Worsley New Testament
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?
Youngs Literal Translation
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?'
Themes
Holy spirit » Those that are born of the spirit
Jesus Christ » History of » Nicodemus comes to jesus (in jerusalem)
Spiritual life » Has its origin in the new-birth
Misunderstood truth » The new birth confused with the physical birth
New Birth » The ignorant cavil at
Nicodemus » Becomes a disciple of jesus
Rebirth/being born again » Those that are born of God
Topics
Interlinear
Deuteros
References
Hastings
Morish
Watsons
Word Count of 37 Translations in John 3:4
Images John 3:4
Prayers for John 3:4
Verse Info
Context Readings
A Meeting With Nicodemus
3 Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot see the kingdom of God [i.e., enter it. See verse 5], unless he is born from above [Note: The words "from above" are also used in verse 31, but in this place they could also mean "again," or "anew" and refer to the source of a person's second birth]. 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born [again] after he is [already] old? He cannot enter his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot enter the kingdom of God unless he is born out of water and the Holy Spirit.
Cross References
John 3:3
Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot see the kingdom of God [i.e., enter it. See verse 5], unless he is born from above [Note: The words "from above" are also used in verse 31, but in this place they could also mean "again," or "anew" and refer to the source of a person's second birth].
John 4:11-12
The woman [then] said to Him, "Sir, you do not have anything to draw [water] with, and the well is deep. Where will you get that living water?
John 6:53
So, Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the physical body of the Son of man and drink His blood, you do not have [spiritual] life in yourselves [Note: The references to "body" and "blood" throughout this section allude to taking Jesus' life and teaching into one's heart. See verse 56].
John 6:60
So, when they heard [these things], many of Jesus' disciples said, "This is difficult teaching. Who can listen to it [i.e., and accept it]?"
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of [Christ dying on] the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing [i.e., in a lost state], but it is God's power to us who are being saved.
1 Corinthians 2:14
Now the natural person [Note: Since this person is contrasted with the spiritual person of verse 15, it is taken here to mean the person without the Holy Spirit] does not receive the things [i.e., truths] revealed by the Holy Spirit of God, because they are [considered] foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them because they must be discerned by using spiritual judgment [i.e., judgment aided by the Holy Spirit].