New English Translation
John 3:2
2came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous 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.”
- 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 a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time, 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 7:50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before and who was one of the rulers, said,
- John 12:42Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue.
- John 19:38After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus (but secretly, because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he went and took the body away.
- Judges 6:27So Gideon took ten of his servants and did just as the Lord had told him. He was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city to do it in broad daylight, so he waited until nighttime.
- Isaiah 51:7Listen to me, you who know what is right, you people who are aware of my law! Don’t be afraid of the insults of men; don’t be discouraged because of their abuse!
- Philippians 1:14and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.
- John 3:26So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, about whom you testified – see, he is baptizing, and everyone is flocking to him!”
- John 1:38Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, “What do you want?” So they said to him, “Rabbi” (which is translated 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 22:16They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality.
- Mark 12:14When they came they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
- John 5:36“But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete – the deeds I am now doing – testify about me that the Father has sent me.
- John 7:31Yet many of the crowd believed in him and said, “Whenever the Christ comes, he won’t perform more miraculous signs than this man did, will he?”
- John 9:16Then some of the Pharisees began to say, “This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such miraculous signs?” Thus there was a division among them.
- John 11:47So the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many miraculous signs.
- John 12:37Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to 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
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