KJV King James Version
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.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
John 3:5
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.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
WEB World English Bible
Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God!
ASV American Standard Version
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.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
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;
Surrounding context — John 3
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.
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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 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.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
ἈπεκρίθηG611 · apokrinōto answerἸησοῦς·G2424 · IēsousJesusἀμὴνG281 · amēnamenἀμὴνG281 · amēnamenλέγωG3004 · legōto sayσοι,G4771 · suyouἐὰνG1437 · eanifμήG3361 · mēnotτιςG5100 · tisoneγεννηθῇG1080 · gennaōto begetἐξG1537 · ekout fromὕδατοςG5204 · hudōr, hudatoswaterκαὶG2532 · kaiandπνεύματος,G4151 · pneumaspirit/breath: spiritοὐG3756 · ounoδύναταιG1410 · dunamaibe ableεἰσελθεῖνG1525 · eiserchomaito enterεἰςG1519 · eistowardτὴνG3588 · hothe/this/whoβασιλείανG932 · basileiakingdomτοῦG3588 · hothe/this/whoθεοῦ.¶G2316 · theosGod
Cross-references
Ezekiel 36:25-27Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.Ephesians 5:26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,Acts 2:38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.1 Peter 3:21The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:1 Corinthians 6:11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.1 John 5:6-8This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.Isaiah 44:3-4For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:Matthew 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:Titus 3:4-7But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,2 Corinthians 5:17-18Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.John 3:3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.Mark 16:16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.1 Corinthians 2:12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.Romans 14:17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.Galatians 6:15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.1 John 5:1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.Matthew 18:3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.1 John 2:29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
Spurgeon on John 3:5
Read Charles H. Spurgeon material whose primary Scripture is this verse or passage.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on John 3:5
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →