John 3

1 Now there was a man [a human being, a person] of the Pharisees [a Jewish sect, strict religious followers] named Nicodemus [victorious among the people], a leader [ruler, chief] of the Jews [people from Judah, Jewish descent]. word study 2 He came to Jesus at [the darkness of] night and said, “Rabbi [my master, a title of respect], we know that You are a [spiritual guide, instructor] teacher who has come from [the presence of] God [the one true deity]. For no one could perform the [miraculous signs, wonders] signs You are doing if God [the Almighty, divine power] were not with him [in a relationship of divine guidance].” word study 3 Jesus replied, “Truly [verily, with utmost certainty], truly [with emphasis], I tell you, no one [not a single person] can see [perceive, experience] the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the Almighty, Creator] unless he is born [generated, regenerated] again [anew, from above]. ” word study 4 “How [in what way, by what means] can a man [a human being, an individual] be born [spiritually renewed, regenerated] when he is old [aged, mature]?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter [go into, become part of] his mother’s womb [the place of birth, the source of life] a second time [again, anew] to be born [to experience spiritual rebirth, to be remade]?” word study 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly [verily, I assure you], I tell you, no one can enter [go into, become a part of] the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] unless he is born [begotten, spiritually renewed] of water and the Spirit [the Holy Ghost, God’s divine presence]. word study 6 Flesh [that which is born of human nature] is born of flesh [physical body, human nature], but spirit [the vital principle, breath of God] is born of the Spirit [the divine, holy breath]. word study 7 Do not [be astonished, marvel] be amazed that I said [to you, unto thee], ‘You [ye, it is necessary for you] must be born [anew, from above] [from a heavenly source, of the Spirit] again.’ word study 8 The wind [a natural force, breath of the air] blows where it wishes [wherever it pleases, as it wills]. You hear its sound [voice, noise], but you do not know [are unable to perceive] where it comes from [whence it originates] or where it is going [to what destination]. So it is with everyone born [begotten, generated] of the Spirit [the divine breath].” word study 9 “How [in what way, by what means] can this [these things] be [happen, come to pass]?” Nicodemus [a Jewish leader, victorious among the people] asked [replied, said to him]. word study 10 “You [are considered a master, a teacher] are Israel’s [the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants] teacher [instructor, one who guides],” said Jesus [God is salvation], “and you do not [completely, utterly] understand [know, recognize, perceive] these things [matters, truths]? word study 11 Truly, truly [verily, I assure you], I tell you, we speak of what we know [have seen and experienced], and we testify [bear witness, give evidence] to what we have seen [perceived and understood], and yet you people do not accept [receive or welcome] our testimony [witness, affirmation of the truth]. word study 12 If I have told you about [terrestrial] earthly things and you do not [trust, have faith] believe, how [can it be, is it possible] will you believe if I tell you about [celestial, divine] heavenly things? word study 13 No one [none, nobody] has ascended [gone up to, risen into] into heaven [the sky, God’s home] except the One [the unique Son] who descended [came down, fell from] from heaven [the spiritual realm, paradise]—the Son [child, offspring] of Man [a human being, a mortal]. word study 14 Just as [in the same way, similarly] Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] lifted up [elevated, exalted] the snake [serpent, symbol of sly cunning] in the wilderness [desert, deserted place], so the Son of Man [the human, God’s special man from heaven] must be lifted up [exalted, elevated to death on the cross], word study 15 that everyone [all people, whosoever] who believes [has faith, trusts] in Him [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] may have [possess, receive] eternal [everlasting, age-during] life [spiritual existence, everlasting fellowship with God]. word study 16 For God [the one true deity] so loved [with esteem and goodwill] the world [the orderly arrangement of creation and its inhabitants] that He gave [bestowed as a gift] His one and only [unique, one-of-a-kind] Son, that everyone who believes [trusts and has faith] in Him shall not perish [be destroyed or lost] but have [possess and hold] eternal [lasting forever] life [physical and spiritual existence]. word study 17 For God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] did not send [dispatch on a mission] His Son [the divine Messiah] into the world [the earthly realm] to condemn [judge] the world [mankind], but [in contrast] to save [rescue] the world [humanity] through [by means of] Him [Jesus, the Savior]. word study 18 Whoever [truly, with faith] believes [has trust, exercises faith] in Him [Jesus Christ, the Son of God] is not [will not be] condemned [judged, found guilty], but whoever [anyone who] does not [refuses to] believe [have faith, trust] has already [even now, from the start] been condemned [judged, found guilty], because [since, for the reason that] he has not [did not, failed to] believed [trust, have faith] in the name [character, authority] of God’s [the Father’s, Almighty] one and only [unique, sole] Son [Child, Heir]. word study 19 And this [the verdict, judgment] is the verdict: The Light [divine illumination, spiritual enlightenment] has come into the world [the earthly realm, human existence], but men loved [had a strong affection for] the darkness [spiritual ignorance, evil] rather than the Light [truth, righteousness] because their deeds [actions, works] were evil [morally wrong, sinful]. word study 20 Everyone [all people, every individual] who does [practices, commits] evil [wicked, morally wrong] hates [detests, loves less] the Light [the divine illumination, spiritual truth], and does not come [refuses to approach, will not go] into the Light [the presence of God, spiritual understanding] for fear [because of dread, lest] that his deeds [actions, works] will be exposed [revealed, reproved]. word study 21 But whoever [he that, anyone who] practices [does, lives out] the truth [reality, sincerity] comes into [approaches, draws near to] the Light [divine illumination, spiritual understanding], so that it may be seen clearly [made manifest, revealed] that what he has done [his deeds, works] has been accomplished [wrought, done] in [through, by the power of] God [the one true deity].” word study 22 After this [following these events, subsequent to this], Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] and His disciples [learners, pupils] went into [toward, entered] the Judean [Jewish, from Judah] countryside [land, region], where [there, in that place] He spent some time [tarried, remained] with [among, accompanied by] them and baptized [immersed, fully wet]. word study 23 Now John [the Baptist, a prophet] was also baptizing [immersing in water] at Aenon [a place of abundant water] near [close to, in proximity to] Salim, because [since, for the reason that] the water was plentiful [much, abundant] there, and people [many individuals] kept coming [to arrive] to be baptized [fully immersed, in the name of God]. word study 24 (For [as a reason, to explain] John [the Baptist, a prophet] had not yet [at this point in time] been thrown [with force, cast] into [toward, into the direction of] prison [a place of confinement].) word study 25 Then [at that time, therefore] a dispute [questioning, controversy] arose between John’s [the Baptist’s] disciples [learners, followers] and a certain [specific, particular] Jew [person from Judah, Jewish person] over the issue [matter, question] of ceremonial [ritual, purification] washing [cleansing, purification]. word study 26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look [behold, take notice], Rabbi [my master, a title of respect], the One who was with you [in your presence, accompanying you] beyond the Jordan [on the other side of the river], the One you testified about [witnessed to, gave evidence for]—He is baptizing [immersing, washing with water], and everyone [all people, the multitude] is going to Him [coming towards, following].” word study 27 John [the Baptist, a prophet] replied, “A man [a human] can receive [take, accept] only [nothing] what is given [bestowed, granted] him from [out of] heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place]. word study 28 You yourselves [as my witnesses, can verify] can testify that I said, ‘I am not [absolutely not, in no way] the Christ [the Messiah, the anointed one], but am sent [appointed, dispatched] ahead of [before, in front of] Him [that one, the promised Savior].’ word study 29 The bride [newly married woman] belongs to the bridegroom [husband in a newly formed marriage]. The friend [friendly companion] of the bridegroom stands and listens [hears and obeys] for him, and is overjoyed [feels deep joy] to hear the bridegroom’s voice [sound of the husband]. That joy [deep and lasting happiness] is mine [belongs to me], and it is now [at this time] complete [fulfilled]. word study 30 He [that one, Jesus] must increase [become greater, grow in influence]; I [myself, as a servant] must decrease [become less, be humbled, to diminish in importance]. word study 31 The One who comes [from heaven] from above is above [far superior to] all. The one who is [born] from the earth [the physical world, earthly realm] belongs to the earth [is earthly, has an earthly perspective] and speaks [talks, utters words] as one from the earth [with an earthly mindset]. The One who comes [descends] from heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place] is above [supreme, preeminent] all. word study 32 He testifies [gives witness, bears evidence] to what He has seen [perceived, experienced] and heard [listened, understood], yet no one [nobody, not a single person] accepts [receives, takes to heart] His testimony [witness, declaration of what He has seen and heard]. word study 33 Whoever [he that hath received] accepts His [referring to Jesus] testimony [giving evidence or testimony] has certified [set to his seal, to seal or confirm] that God [the one true deity] is truthful [true or real, authentic]. word study 34 For the One [sent by God’s authority] whom God [the Father, Creator] has sent [dispatched on a mission] speaks the words [declarations, utterances] of God [the divine message], for God [the Giver of all gifts] gives the Spirit [the divine breath, life-giving power] without limit [not by measure, freely and abundantly]. word study 35 The Father [loving with esteem and goodwill] loves the Son [His beloved child] and has placed [given, entrusted] all things [everything] in His hands. word study 36 Whoever [truly trusts, has faith in] believes in the Son [God’s only begotten, the Messiah] has eternal [lasting forever, age-during] life. Whoever [completely rejects, disobeys] rejects the Son will not see [experience, perceive] life. Instead, the wrath [strong anger, righteous indignation] of God [the Almighty, Creator] remains [stays, abides] on him.” word study