Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
John 3:4
"How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above' talk?"
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Christian Standard Bible®
“How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
“How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
King James Version (1611)
Nicodemus saith vnto him, How can a man be borne when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mothers wombe, and be borne?
Nicodemus saith vnto him, How can a man be borne when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mothers wombe, and be borne?
King James Version
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
English Standard Version
Nicodemus 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?"
Nicodemus 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?"
New American Standard Bible
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?"
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?"
New Century Version
Nicodemus said, "But if a person is already old, how can he be born again? He cannot enter his mother's womb again. So how can a person be born a second time?"
Nicodemus said, "But if a person is already old, how can he be born again? He cannot enter his mother's womb again. So how can a person be born a second time?"
Amplified Bible
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?"
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Nicodemus 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?"
Nicodemus 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?"
Legacy Standard Bible
Nicodemus *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?"
Nicodemus *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?"
Berean Standard Bible
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time to be born?"
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time to be born?"
Contemporary English Version
Nicodemus asked, "How can a grown man ever be born a second time?"
Nicodemus asked, "How can a grown man ever be born a second time?"
Complete Jewish Bible
Nakdimon said to him, "How can a grown man be ‘born'? Can he go back into his mother's womb and be born a second time?"
Nakdimon said to him, "How can a grown man be ‘born'? Can he go back into his mother's womb and be born a second time?"
Darby Translation
Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be born being old? can he enter a second time into the womb of his mother and be born?
Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be born being old? can he enter a second time into the womb of his mother and be born?
Easy-to-Read Version
Nicodemus said, "How can a man who is already old be born again? Can he go back into his mother's womb and be born a second time?"
Nicodemus said, "How can a man who is already old be born again? Can he go back into his mother's womb and be born a second time?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nicodemus sayde vnto him, Howe can a man be borne which is olde? can he enter into his mothers wombe againe, and be borne?
Nicodemus sayde vnto him, Howe can a man be borne which is olde? can he enter into his mothers wombe againe, and be borne?
George Lamsa Translation
Nicodemus said to him, How can an old man be born again? can he enter again a second time into his mother''s womb, and be born?
Nicodemus said to him, How can an old man be born again? can he enter again a second time into his mother''s womb, and be born?
Good News Translation
"How can a grown man be born again?" Nicodemus asked. "He certainly cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time!"
"How can a grown man be born again?" Nicodemus asked. "He certainly cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time!"
Lexham English Bible
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is an old man? He is not able to enter into his mother's womb for the second time and be born, can he?"
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is an old man? He is not able to enter into his mother's womb for the second time and be born, can he?"
Literal Translation
Nicodemus said to Him, How is a man able to be generated, being old? He is not able to enter into his mother's womb a second time and be born?
Nicodemus said to Him, How is a man able to be generated, being old? He is not able to enter into his mother's womb a second time and be born?
American Standard Version
Nicodemus saith unto 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?
Nicodemus saith unto 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?
Bible in Basic English
Nicodemus said to him, How is it possible for a man to be given birth when he is old? Is he able to go into his mother's body a second time and come to birth again?
Nicodemus said to him, How is it possible for a man to be given birth when he is old? Is he able to go into his mother's body a second time and come to birth again?
Hebrew Names Version
Nakdimon 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?"
Nakdimon 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?"
International Standard Version
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a person be born when he is old? He can't go back into his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?"
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a person be born when he is old? He can't go back into his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?"
Etheridge Translation
Nikodimos said to him, How can an old man be born ? Who can again the womb of his mother the second time enter, and be born ?
Nikodimos said to him, How can an old man be born ? Who can again the womb of his mother the second time enter, and be born ?
Murdock Translation
Nicodemus said to him: How can an old man be born? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?
Nicodemus said to him: How can an old man be born? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nicodemus sayth vnto hym: Howe can a man be borne when he is olde? can he enter into his mothers wombe, and be borne agayne?
Nicodemus sayth vnto hym: Howe can a man be borne when he is olde? can he enter into his mothers wombe, and be borne agayne?
English Revised Version
Nicodemus saith unto 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?
Nicodemus saith unto 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?
World English Bible
Nicodemus 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?"
Nicodemus 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?"
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Nicodemus saith 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?
Nicodemus saith 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?
Weymouth's New Testament
"How is it possible," Nicodemus asked, "for a man to be born when he is old? Can he a second time enter his mother's womb and be born?"
"How is it possible," Nicodemus asked, "for a man to be born when he is old? Can he a second time enter his mother's womb and be born?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Nychodeme seide to hym, Hou may a man be borun, whanne he is eeld? whether he may entre ayen in to his modris wombe, and be borun ayen?
Nychodeme seide to hym, Hou may a man be borun, whanne he is eeld? whether he may entre ayen in to his modris wombe, and be borun ayen?
Update Bible Version
Nicodemus says 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?
Nicodemus says 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?
Webster's Bible Translation
Nicodemus saith to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Nicodemus saith to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
New English Translation
Nicodemus 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?"
Nicodemus 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?"
New King James Version
Nicodemus 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?"
Nicodemus 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?"
New Living Translation
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"
New Life Bible
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? How can he get into his mother's body and be born the second time?"
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? How can he get into his mother's body and be born the second time?"
New Revised Standard
Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?"
Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Nicodemus saith unto him - How, can a man be born, when he is, old? Can he, into the womb of his mother, a second time, enter, and be born?
Nicodemus saith unto him - How, can a man be born, when he is, old? Can he, into the womb of his mother, a second time, enter, and be born?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Nicodemus saith 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 again?
Nicodemus saith 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 again?
Revised Standard Version
Nicode'mus 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?"
Nicode'mus 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?"
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Nicodemus sayde vnto him: how can a man be boren when he is olde? can he enter into his moders wombe and be boren agayne?
Nicodemus sayde vnto him: how can a man be boren when he is olde? can he enter into his moders wombe and be boren agayne?
Young's Literal Translation
Nicodemus saith unto him, `How is a man able to be born, being old? is he able into the womb of his mother a second time to enter, and to be born?'
Nicodemus saith unto him, `How is a man able to be born, being old? is he able into the womb of his mother a second time to enter, and to be born?'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Nicodemus sayde vnto him: How can a man be borne, whan he is olde? Can he entre into his mothers wombe, and be borne agayne?
Nicodemus sayde vnto him: How can a man be borne, whan he is olde? Can he entre into his mothers wombe, and be borne agayne?
Mace New Testament (1729)
Nicodemus replied, how can a man be born when he is old? can he enter into his mother, and be born a second time?
Nicodemus replied, how can a man be born when he is old? can he enter into his mother, and be born a second time?
Simplified Cowboy Version
"What in the world are you talking about?" Nick exclaimed. "How can a grown man go back to the womb and be born again?"
"What in the world are you talking about?" Nick exclaimed. "How can a grown man go back to the womb and be born again?"
Contextual Overview
1There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it." 3 Jesus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to—to God's kingdom." 4 "How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above' talk?" 5Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it's not possible to enter God's kingdom. When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit. 7"So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above'—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That's the way it is with everyone ‘born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God." 9 Nicodemus asked, "What do you mean by this? How does this happen?" 10Jesus said, "You're a respected teacher of Israel and you don't know these basics? Listen carefully. I'm speaking sober truth to you. I speak only of what I know by experience; I give witness only to what I have seen with my own eyes. There is nothing secondhand here, no hearsay. Yet instead of facing the evidence and accepting it, you procrastinate with questions. If I tell you things that are plain as the hand before your face and you don't believe me, what use is there in telling you of things you can't see, the things of God? 13"No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man. In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life. 16"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. 19"This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
How: John 3:3, John 4:11, John 4:12, John 6:53, John 6:60, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 2:14
Reciprocal: John 3:9 - How John 6:52 - How John 7:36 - manner John 14:22 - how 1 Corinthians 15:35 - How
Cross-References
Genesis 3:13
"The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."
"The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."
2 Kings 1:6
They told him, "A man met us and said, ‘Turn around and go back to the king who sent you; tell him, God 's message: Is it because there's no God in Israel that you're running off to consult Baal-Zebub god of Ekron? You needn't bother. You're not going to get out of that bed you're in—you're as good as dead already.'"
They told him, "A man met us and said, ‘Turn around and go back to the king who sent you; tell him, God 's message: Is it because there's no God in Israel that you're running off to consult Baal-Zebub god of Ekron? You needn't bother. You're not going to get out of that bed you're in—you're as good as dead already.'"
2 Kings 1:16
Elijah told him, " God 's word: Because you sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub the god of Ekron, as if there were no God in Israel to whom you could pray, you'll never get out of that bed alive—already you're as good as dead."
Elijah told him, " God 's word: Because you sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub the god of Ekron, as if there were no God in Israel to whom you could pray, you'll never get out of that bed alive—already you're as good as dead."
2 Kings 8:10
Elisha answered, "Go and tell him, ‘Don't worry; you'll live.' The fact is, though— God showed me—that he's doomed to die." Elisha then stared hard at Hazael, reading his heart. Hazael felt exposed and dropped his eyes. Then the Holy Man wept.
Elisha answered, "Go and tell him, ‘Don't worry; you'll live.' The fact is, though— God showed me—that he's doomed to die." Elisha then stared hard at Hazael, reading his heart. Hazael felt exposed and dropped his eyes. Then the Holy Man wept.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Nicodemus saith unto him,.... Understanding him of a natural birth, to be repeated:
how can a man be born when he is old? as it seems by this, he himself now was:
can he enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born? the Ethiopic version adds, "again"; and the Arabic version, "and then be born"; this he urges, as absurd, impracticable, and impossible; and which shows him to have been as yet a natural man, who could not receive nor discern spiritual things.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
How can a man ... - It may seem remarkable that Nicodemus understood the Saviour literally, when the expression âto be born againâ was in common use among the Jews to denote a change from âGentilismâ to âJudaismâ by becoming a proselyte by baptism. The word with them meant a change from the state of a pagan to that of a Jew. But they never used it as applicable to a Jew, because they supposed that by his birth every Jew was entitled to all the privileges of the people of God. When, therefore, our Saviour used it of a Jew, when he affirmed its necessity of every man, Nicodemus supposed that there was an absurdity in the doctrine, or something that surpassed his comprehension, and he therefore asked whether it was possible that Jesus could teach so absurd a doctrine - as he could conceive no other sense as applicable to a Jew - as that he should, when old, enter a second time into his motherâs womb and be born. And we may learn from this:
1.That prejudice leads men to misunderstand the plainest doctrines of religion.
2.That things which are at first incomprehensible or apparently absurd, may, when explained, become clear. The doctrine of regeneration, so difficult to Nicodemus, is plain to a âchildâ that is born of the Spirit.
- Those in high rank in life, and who are learned, are often most ignorant about the plainest matters of religion. It is often wonderful that they exhibit so little acquaintance with the most simple subjects pertaining to the soul, and so much absurdity in their views.
- A doctrine is not to be rejected because the rich and the great do not believe or understand it. The doctrine of regeneration was not false because Nicodemus did not comprehend it.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse John 3:4. How can a man be born when he is old? — It is probable that Nicodemus was pretty far advanced in age at this time; and from his answer we may plainly perceive that, like the rest of the Jews, and like multitudes of Christians, he rested in the letter, without paying proper attention to the spirit: the shadow, without the thing signified, had hitherto satisfied him. Our Lord knew him to be in this state, and this was the cause of his pointed address to him.
