God’s Word Translation
John 3:2
2He came to Jesus one night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that God has sent you as a teacher. No one can perform the miracles you perform 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.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)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 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.”
Context of John 3:2
1Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish council. He came to Jesus one night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that God has sent you as a teacher. No one can perform the miracles you perform unless God is with him.” 3Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can see God’s kingdom without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus asked him, “How can anyone be born when he’s an old man? He can’t go back inside his mother a second time to be born, can he?”
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 7:50One of those Pharisees was Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus. Nicodemus asked them,
- John 12:42Many rulers believed in Jesus. However, they wouldn’t admit it publicly because the Pharisees would have thrown them out of the synagogue.
- John 19:38Later Joseph from the city of Arimathea asked Pilate to let him remove Jesus’ body. (Joseph was a disciple of Jesus but secretly because he was afraid of the Jews). Pilate gave him permission to remove Jesus’ body. So Joseph removed it.
- Judges 6:27Gideon took ten of his servants and did what the Lord had told him to do. However, he didn’t do anything during the day. He was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city, so he did it at night.
- Isaiah 51:7Listen to me, you people who know righteousness, you people who have my teachings in your hearts. Don’t be afraid of being insulted by people. Don’t be discouraged by their ridicule.
- Philippians 1:14So through my being in prison, the Lord has given most of our brothers and sisters confidence to speak God’s word more boldly and fearlessly than ever.
- John 3:26So they went to John and asked him, “Rabbi, do you remember the man you spoke so favorably about when he was with you on the other side of the Jordan River? Well, he’s baptizing, and everyone is going to him!”
- John 1:38Jesus turned around and saw them following him. He asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “teacher”), “where are you staying?”
- John 20:16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” Mary turned around and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (This word means “teacher.”)
- Matthew 22:16They sent their disciples to him along with Herod’s followers. They said to him, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth and that you teach the truth about the way of God. You don’t favor individuals because of who they are.
- Mark 12:14When they came to him, they said, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth. You don’t favor individuals because of who they are. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not? Should we pay taxes or not?”
- John 5:36But I have something that testifies more favorably on my behalf than John’s testimony. The tasks that the Father gave me to carry out, these tasks which I perform, testify on my behalf. They prove that the Father has sent me.
- John 7:31However, many people in the crowd believed in him. They asked, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more miracles than this man has?”
- John 9:16Some of the Pharisees said, “The man who did this is not from God because he doesn’t follow the traditions for the day of rest—a holy day.” Other Pharisees asked, “How can a man who is a sinner perform miracles like these?” So the Pharisees were divided in their opinions.
- John 11:47So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council. They asked, “What are we doing? This man is performing a lot of miracles.
- John 12:37Although they had seen Jesus perform so many miracles, they wouldn’t 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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