John 3:7
What does John 3:7 mean?
A plain-English look at John 3:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 3:7 means
Jesus challenges Nicodemus not to be surprised by the necessity of being "born anew." Given Nicodemus's position as a knowledgeable teacher of Israel, Jesus implies that this spiritual truth should not be alien to him. The command not to marvel underscores that this concept, though seemingly radical, is a fundamental spiritual reality for anyone seeking to enter God's Kingdom, regardless of their earthly knowledge or religious standing.
John 3:7 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 · 2000Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Do not be surprised that I say to you, It is necessary for you to have a second birth.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born from above;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Wonder not that I said to thee: You must be born again.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Do not wonder that I said to thee, It is needful that ye should be born anew.
Context
After explaining the distinction between flesh and Spirit, Jesus now directly addresses Nicodemus's unspoken astonishment or confusion. This verse serves as a gentle rebuke and an affirmation of the truth he just presented, indicating that spiritual rebirth is a foundational doctrine. Jesus then proceeds to use an analogy to illustrate the mysterious yet observable nature of this spiritual birth, making it more comprehensible.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:
- Revelation 21:27
and there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
- Colossians 1:12
giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
- Job 15:14
What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
- 1 Peter 1:14
as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance:
- John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Sermon ideas from John 3:7
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 3:7 teaches us about new birth
What John 3:7 teaches us about the spirit
What John 3:7 teaches us about god's love for the world
What John 3:7 teaches us about faith and life
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