John 3:5

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations of John 3:5

Iesus answered, Uerily, verily I say vnto thee, except a man be borne of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdome of God.
- King James Version (1611) - Compare to scan of original John chapter 3

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!
- American Standard Version (1901)

Jesus said in answer, Truly, I say to you, If a man's birth is not from water and from the Spirit, it is not possible for him to go into the kingdom of God.
- Basic English Bible

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except any one be born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- Darby Bible

Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- Douay Rheims Bible

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- Webster's Bible

In most solemn truth I tell you, replied Jesus, "that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
- Weymouth Bible

Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God!
- World English Bible

Jhesus answeride, Treuli, treuli, Y seie to thee, but a man be borun ayen of watir, and of the Hooli Goost, he may not entre in to the kyngdom of God.
- Wycliffe Bible

Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the reign of God;
- Youngs Literal Bible

Servant's comment on 2020-09-25 03:12:53:

Only after the Ethiopian was saved by faith in Jesusu Christ in verse 37 was he allowed to be baptized. Salvation is saved by Grace through faith in what Jesus did by shedding His perfect, holy blood on the cross for the sins of mankind. People in the Old Testament were saved the same way the only difference is that they believed God would send a Savior. We are saved by faith by believing that the Father has already sent the Savior, baptism is a picture of our faith representative of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Servant's comment on 2020-09-25 03:06:48:

Baptism has nothing to do with Salvation. The Bible clearly states in Romans that "whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." No baptism mentioned or required. Also when Phillip was lead of the Spirit to Gaza to meet the unich has in Acts chapter 8.

" And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."

Sunday Levinus Alaka's comment on 2020-09-23 02:12:27:

It is necessary for an individual to be born again to enter God's Kingdom, it takes a gracious and miraculous act-completely on God's part-to close the gap between Him and those He calls (John 6:44).God graciously gives life by His Spirit. Paul writes, "For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.' So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy" (Romans 9:15-16).

Onyekachukwu Ogechi Levinus Alaka's comment on 2020-09-23 02:02:30:

Jesus proclaimed to Nicodemus that one must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. Since Adam and Eve, mankind has been cut off from God. The design of the Tabernacle, the Temple, and the worship system under the Old Covenant pictures God as distant and virtually unapproachable. Man in his natural condition, having a carnal mind and dead in his sin, is certainly shown as away from God. Though it is necessary for an individual to be born again to enter God's Kingdom, it takes a gracious and miraculous act-completely on God's part-to close the gap between Him and those He calls (John 6:44).

No one can arbitrarily volunteer for entry and be accepted; a person cannot cause himself to be born again. Flesh does not produce redemption. Unless one is born of the Holy Spirit, whatever one does in the flesh will not make him spiritual in the biblical sense. The Bible shows that the natural mind of man is at war against God and that it is not subject to God's law and cannot be (Romans 8:7), expressing the harsh reality of the carnal heart of mankind.

When Paul writes that the unconverted are dead in trespasses and sin, he means exactly that. Regardless of how sincere or religious they might be, such people are lifeless in terms of true spiritual life that is given by God. They are part of the old, natural creation and are spiritually lifeless unless and until-and completely at His discretion-God graciously gives life by His Spirit. Paul writes, "For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.' So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy".

Onyekachukwu Ogechi Levinus Alaka's comment on 2020-09-23 02:01:12:

Jesus proclaimed to Nicodemus that one must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. Since Adam and Eve, mankind has been cut off from God. The design of the Tabernacle, the Temple, and the worship system under the Old Covenant pictures God as distant and virtually unapproachable. Man in his natural condition, having a carnal mind and dead in his sin, is certainly shown as away from God. Though it is necessary for an individual to be born again to enter God's Kingdom, it takes a gracious and miraculous act-completely on God's part-to close the gap between Him and those He calls (John 6:44).No one can arbitrarily volunteer for entry and be accepted; a person cannot cause himself to be born again. Flesh does not produce redemption. Unless one is born of the Holy Spirit, whatever one does in the flesh will not make him spiritual in the biblical sense. The Bible shows that the natural mind of man is at war against God and that it is not subject to God's law and cannot be (Romans 8:7), expressing the harsh reality of the carnal heart of mankind.When Paul writes that the unconverted are dead in trespasses and sin, he means exactly that. Regardless of how sincere or religious they might be, such people are lifeless in terms of true spiritual life that is given by God. They are part of the old, natural creation and are spiritually lifeless unless and until-and completely at His discretion-God graciously gives life by His Spirit. Paul writes, "For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.' So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy" (Romans 9:15-16).

Steve Lynch's comment on 2020-07-05 14:35:54:

Born again in the greek means born from above. and the water is the bag of water in the mother's womb. that's why the word said that the lord knew you before you were in your mother's womb. and the batism represents the reserection of christ. you are born into the flesh and you go under the water to represent the burial of christ. then when you are brought back up it represents the resurection of christ. your spirit and soul enter into the flesh at conception. so that's where the born again comes from. and yes we should be baptized as christ was.

Shaarei's comment on 2020-07-03 10:29:20:

Born AGAIN does not refer to the first birth or our Lord would not have said AGAIN. Born of Water in baptism in water or Paul would not have said repent and be BAPTISED for the remission of your sins and Ye shall receive the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy of our Lords Spirit is the only unforgivable Sin. If we don't walk in Our Lords Spirit to Follow in our Lords WAY...We will be told depart from me Ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you... No man enters our Lirds Kingdom without Our Lords Spirit Leading them there. All Glory to the King of All days. The Sovereign Lord of All things, the Redeemer of All mankind. There is nothing too hard for our God

Susan Browning's comment on 2020-05-24 22:49:55:

One does not have to be baptized with water to enter the Kingdom of God. Salvation is a free gift from God, no strings attached. Born of water is amniotic fluid. All earthly life begins in water. God's Word refers to both the physical and the spiritual throughout beginning with Genesis 2:7. What if you died prior to your day of baptism. And, Christians no longer wait 40 days to receive The Holy Ghost. When one accepts Christ, right then and right there, the Holy Ghost begins to dwell within you.

Susan Browning's comment on 2020-05-24 22:34:21:

All physical life begins in water. It has nothing to do with God's Word nor Baptism. Think of all the denominations that sprinkle versus fully immerse. Everlasting Life comes to us by way of being born again in Spirit.

Philip's comment on 2015-04-21 09:01:06:

I think one thing that 's seems clear in the bible and is so over looked and really puzzles together the purpose of life here on earth is God had Angels that followed Satan at his fall those fallen angels are us. It 's God 's way and plan to bring us back to him. That 's y he says that we are to be born again and of the spirit it 's referring to being created as a fallen Angel into flesh through a mothers womb. There 's a reason the angels are mentioned in the bible and that they followed Satan there 's a connection with that and who we are now and why.

Arlin Farriester's comment on 2015-03-20 17:52:11:

Born of water means when you are born, look it up born again should be translated born from above.

2ChromeEyes's comment on 2015-03-08 19:00:35:

Given the information in John 3:1-8, I also conclude that when Jesus is telling Nicodemus "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ", that he means being born from his mother and born of the Spirit, because Nicodemus asked if a man can enter into his mother 's womb a second time. And Jesus emphasizes, that not ONLY born of water, but ALSO of the Spirit. "that which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. So, "born again " means being born of the Spirit. Our new life is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.

bobby's comment on 2015-01-23 20:18:40:

The thief was under the old law. He didn 't need baptism. Had he died later he 'd been under the new law and would have needed both baptisms. Water and holy ghost. Jesus only taught one plan of salvation, Death,Burial,Resurrection. He set the example. Repent, death of your flesh, burial baptism resurrection holy ghost born again. Its amazing how people will do anything to try and get out of living right and obeying God!

NISHA313's comment on 2015-01-22 10:02:00:

We have been talking about this in church last week. The water means The word. The Spirit of course is the Holy Spirit and will then be able to come in you and live. Of course water baptism is still very necessary. I hope this was clear and understanding... Be blessed

Daniel's comment on 2014-11-21 09:48:26:

The key concepts in John 3 5 being born of water defining baptism and immediately after being born of water,that someone is to receive to the holly ghost that 's mean his is born of the spirit

Jeanette Lewis's comment on 2014-10-26 22:15:13:

I believe the "water " to be water baptism. I also believe the "Spirit " to be the Holy Ghost. We are buried with sin, down in the water , and we are risen with Christ coming out of the water . It is synonymous with Christ 's death, burial, resurrection. Then we must be filled with the Holy Ghost! That 's the ticket to heaven! I 've got mine!!!

sherry's comment on 2014-09-06 08:54:22:

From the old testament, where Jesus is first introduced through visions and elements and through the new testament when he was brought into being, Jesus has always and still is living water. He washes the soul by the water of the word which is himself. Jesus is the water and spirit that saves. No outward sign is performed for any reason. Man wants everything to be physical, like they had some part in the salvation process, but we know everything with God is based on the truth of his word given by the power of his spirit. This is why God will only accept us when its based on spirit and truth. Men are to give the true gospel as directed by the spirit and God does the rest. men are then commanded to make disciples of those born again into Christ. This is what builds the body of Christ. If men are not walking in the spirit and doing what God says, there is no way true discipleship can take place because its the blind leading the blind into a ditch where no progress is made with spiritual the ways of God.

KENNETH BOLLING's comment on 2014-08-19 08:17:50:

I DO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE LIVING WATER

Rae's comment on 2014-06-24 20:15:52:

john 3 and 23 in the same chapter they are talking about being baptized in water the thief on the cross was under the old law before the holy ghost had come please read and study the whole chapter NEVER take one or two verses and try to under stand you must study the whole chapter STUDY TO SHOW THY SELF APPROVED

Mark's comment on 2014-01-23 08:41:27:

All men and women of God should pray before opening the word of God and surrender to his will, no mater what we find it to be. The prayer should be for God to remove all the wordly motivation that we would all have otherwise have (like wanting a verse to mean something before we even study it or so we can argue with someone). I don't see how anyone that has prayed that prayer could possibly see this verse to be about water baptism. The entire chapter is talking about the difference between being born physically and being born spiritually. Why would this verse suddenly be about anything else? Water and of spirit; one has to be physical birth and the other spiritual birth. After all, it's not "born of spirit and of spirit". Water is simply the physical birth. Remember, this was written in an ancient language (not even exactly the same as today's Greek).

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