John 3:2

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

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 have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered and said to 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? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

John 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

• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• to Jesus by nightνύξnux · nightG3571
• and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Rabbiῥαββίrhabbi · RabbiG4461
• from Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• a teacherδιδάσκαλοςdidaskalos · teacherG1320
• for noοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• signsσημεῖονsēmeion · signG4592
• unlessἐάνean · ifG1437
• unlessμήmē · notG3361

Cross-references for John 3:2

• John 7:50Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them,
• John 12:42Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;
• John 19:38After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
• Judges 6:27Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had spoken to him; and because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night.
• Isaiah 51:7Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart is My law; Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings.
• Philippians 1:14and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
• John 3:26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”
• John 1:38And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
• John 20:16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
• Matthew 22:16And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.
• Mark 12:14They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?
• John 5:36But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish--the very works that I do--testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.
• John 7:31But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”
• John 9:16Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them.
• John 11:47Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs.
• John 12:37But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing 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

• Cowardice
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Miracles
• Nicodemus
• Opinion, Public
• Rabbi
• Sign

In the dictionaries

• God
• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Born
• Condemn
• Condemnation
• Darkness
• Decrease
• Increase

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