John 3:5–8
Jesus says being born of the Spirit is like the wind: you hear it, but can't tell where it comes from
Study it word by word5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless someone is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’
8The wind blows where it wants, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from and where it goes. So it is with everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
In its context
3Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless someone is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4Nicodemus says 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?”
…
9Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can these things be?”
10Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and you do not know these things?
Its words in the original
- ἀπεκρίθηapekrithē· answer
Answer, reply; speak up.
- ἸησοῦςIēsous· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- ἈμὴνAmēn· truly, amen
Amen: a Hebrew word meaning "so it is", "it is firm". Jesus uses it at the start of a saying to affirm what he is about to say: "truly".
- λέγωlegō· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- γεννηθῇgennēthēi· beget, be born
Beget, become the father of; said of a mother, give birth; in the passive, be born. In family lists it also covers grandchildren and later descendants.
- ὕδατοςhydatos· water
Water.
- πνεύματοςpneumatos· spirit, Spirit
Spirit; also wind and breath. With "holy", the Holy Spirit of God.
- δύναταιdynatai· can, be able
Can, be able.
- εἰσελθεῖνeiselthein· enter, go in
Enter, go in, come in.
- βασιλείανbasileian· kingdom
Kingdom: the reign of a king and the place where he reigns. "The kingdom of heaven" is the reign of God.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- σαρκὸςsarkos· flesh
Flesh: the body, and weak human nature; "flesh and blood", a human being with only human strength.
- ἐστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- θαυμάσῃςthaumasēis· marvel, wonder
Marvel, be amazed.
- ΔεῖDei· bind, tie
Bind, tie.
- ἄνωθενanōthen· from above, again
From above; also again, anew.
- ὅπουhopou· where
Where, wherever.
- θέλειthelei· want, wish
Want, wish, be willing.
- πνεῖpnei· blow
Blow.
- φωνὴνphōnēn· voice, sound
Voice, sound.
- ἀκούειςakoueis· hear, listen
Hear, listen; also heed.
- οἶδαςoidas· know
Know, understand; also see.
- πόθενpothen· from where?
From where? where from?
- ἔρχεταιerchetai· come, go
Come, arrive; go.
- ποῦpou· where?
Where?
- ὑπάγειhypagei· go away
Go away, leave; "go!".