John 3:6
What does John 3:6 mean?
A plain-English look at John 3:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 3:6 means
Jesus further articulates the fundamental distinction: that which is born of "flesh" remains flesh, and that which is born of the "Spirit" is spirit. This underscores the necessity of a spiritual birth because human nature, in its fallen state, is incapable of producing spiritual life or understanding the things of God. Only a divine work of the Spirit can transform the human heart, imparting spiritual life and making one capable of truly relating to God.
John 3:6 in context
John 3 — You Must Be Born Again
By night a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus, half-confessing him as a teacher sent from God. Jesus cuts past the compliment: 'except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Religion will not do; reformation will not do; only a new birth by water and the Spirit. The chapter rises to the most-quoted verse in the Bible — 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son' — and ends with John the Baptist's last public testimony: 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'
- New birth
- The Spirit
- God's love for the world
- Faith and life
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
KJV
King James Version · 1611That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949That which has birth from the flesh is flesh, and that which has birth from the Spirit is spirit.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862that which hath been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which hath been born of the Spirit is spirit.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Context
Building on the clarification that rebirth is of "water and the Spirit," Jesus elaborates on the intrinsic difference between flesh and spirit. This verse clearly distinguishes between natural human existence and the spiritual life imparted by God. This explanation helps Nicodemus understand why a spiritual rebirth is absolutely essential, rather than a mere improvement upon human nature, leading to Jesus's call not to marvel at this truth.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 5:24
And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.
- Psalms 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.
- Ezekiel 36:26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
- 1 Corinthians 6:17
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
- Romans 7:5
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Sermon ideas from John 3:6
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 3:6 teaches us about new birth
What John 3:6 teaches us about the spirit
What John 3:6 teaches us about god's love for the world
What John 3:6 teaches us about faith and life
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