John 3:9

John 3:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
• New International Version (NIV)“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

Context of John 3:9

7Do not wonder that I said to thee, It is needful that ye should be born anew. 8The wind blows where it will, and thou hearest its voice, but knowest not whence it comes and where it goes: thus is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said to him, Thou art the teacher of Israel and knowest not these things! 11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that which we know, and we bear witness of that which we have seen, and ye receive not our witness.

John 3:9 word by word

Ἀπεκρίθη Νικόδημος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πῶς δύναται ταῦτα γενέσθαι;¶Read the interlinear

• NicodemusΝικόδημοςNikodēmos · NicodemusG3530
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778

Cross-references for John 3:9

• John 3:4Nicodemus 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?
• John 6:52The Jews therefore contended among themselves, saying, How can he give us this flesh to eat?
• Proverbs 4:18But the path of the righteous is as the shining light, going on and brightening until the day be fully come.
• Isaiah 42:16And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not, in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
• Mark 8:24And having looked up, he said, I behold men, for I see [them], as trees, walking.
• Luke 1:34But Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?

Commentaries on John 3:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9How can these things be? - Our Lord had very plainly told him how these things could be, and illustrated the new birth by one of the most proper similes that could be chosen; but so intent was this great man an making every thing submit to the testimony of his senses that he appears unwilling to believe any thing, unless he can comprehend it. This is the case with many - they profess to believe because they comprehend; but they are impostors who speak…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9How can these things be? - Nicodemus was still unwilling to admit the doctrine unless he understood it; and we have here an instance of a man of rank stumbling at one of the plainest doctrines of religion, and unwilling to admit a truth because he could not understand “how” it could be, when he daily admitted the truth of facts in other things which he could as little comprehend. And we may learn: 1.that people will often admit facts on other subjects…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-109-10. How, &c.--Though the subject still confounds Nicodemus, the necessity and possibility of the new birth is no longer the point with him, but the nature of it and how it is brought about [Luthardt]. "From this moment Nicodemus says nothing more, but has sunk unto a disciple who has found his true teacher. Therefore the Saviour now graciously advances in His communications of truth, and once more solemnly brings to the mind of this teacher in Israel…Read the comment

Topics related to John 3:9

• Blindness
• Jesus, the Christ
• Life
• Mysteries
• Nicodemus
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Born
• Condemn
• Condemnation
• Darkness
• Decrease
• Increase
• Love
• Nicodemus
• Testify
• Truth

Commentaries on John 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings