English Standard Version
John 3:2
2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
John 3:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
Context of John 3:2
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 3Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4Nicodemus said 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?"
Read all of John 3John 3:2 word by word
οὗτος ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν νυκτὸς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ῥαββί, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀπὸ θεοῦ ἐλήλυθας διδάσκαλος· οὐδεὶς γὰρ δύναται ταῦτα τὰ σημεῖα ποιεῖν ἃ σὺ ποιεῖς, ἐὰν μὴ ᾖ ὁ θεὸς μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The sameοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- by nightνύξnux · nightG3571
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Rabbiῥαββίrhabbi · RabbiG4461
- we knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- a teacherδιδάσκαλοςdidaskalos · teacherG1320
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- miraclesσημεῖονsēmeion · signG4592
- thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- thouσύsu · youG4771
- ·ἐάνean · ifG1437
- exceptμήmē · notG3361
- beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
Cross-references for John 3:2
- John 7:50Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,
- John 12:42Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;
- John 19:38After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
- Judges 6:27So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.
- Isaiah 51:7"Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings.
- Philippians 1:14And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
- John 3:26And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."
- John 1:38Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
- John 20:16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
- Matthew 22:16And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.
- Mark 12:14And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?"
- John 5:36But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
- John 7:31Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, "When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?"
- John 9:16Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them.
- John 11:47So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
- John 12:37Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,
Commentaries on John 3:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Came to Jesus by night - He had matters of the utmost importance, on which he wished to consult Christ; and he chose the night season, perhaps less through the fear of man than through a desire to have Jesus alone, as he found him all the day encompassed with the multitude; so that it was impossible for him to get an opportunity to speak fully on those weighty affairs concerning which he intended to consult him. However, we may take it for granted that he…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The same came to Jesus - The design of his coming seems to have been to inquire more fully of Jesus what was the doctrine which he came to teach. He seems to have been convinced that he was the Messiah, and desired to be further instructed in private respecting his doctrine, It was not usual for a man of rank, power, and riches to come to inquire of Jesus in this manner; yet we may learn that the most favorable opportunity for teaching such men the nature…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2at night: Nicodemus might have been afraid for others to see him with Jesus. In the Gospel of John, night often has a deeper meaning. It can represent evil, error (wrong belief), and unbelief (lack of trust in God; see 9:4; 11:10; 13:30).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-211-2. Nicodemus--In this member of the Sanhedrim sincerity and timidity are seen struggling together.Read the comment
Topics related to John 3:2
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries