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 Living Translation (NLT)“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

Context of John 3:9

7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.

John 3:9 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• NicodemusΝικόδημοςNikodēmos · NicodemusG3530
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096

Cross-references for John 3:9

• John 3:4Nicodemus 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?”
• John 6:52The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
• Proverbs 4:18But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
• Isaiah 42:16I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
• Mark 8:24And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”
• Luke 1:34Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know 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