Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction
You do not need to read Greek to begin. Tap an underlined word in either the Greek line or the Romanized Greek line: both open the same entry. Where reliable data is available, you will see the dictionary form, grammar, Strong’s number and a definition. Choose “More meaning and grammar” to explore further, then “Close” to return to the passage. Drag the top bar to move the panel and scroll inside it to see more; the Close button stays visible.
A dashed underline marks unavailable parsing; a double underline marks an unavailable dictionary entry. We do not fill these gaps with guesses. Dictionary definitions offer possible meanings; context determines the meaning in the passage. Our Greek text and its Romanization remain unchanged.
Learn about the sources and coverage →There was a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and one of the Jewish ruling leaders.
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Ἦν δὲ ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων, Νικόδημος ὄνομα αὐτῷ, ἄρχων τῶν Ἰουδαίων∙
Ēn de anthrōpos ek tōn Pharisaiōn, Nikodēmos onoma autō, archōn tōn Ioudaiōn;
He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know You are a teacher who has come from God. No one could perform the miraculous signs You are doing unless God were with him.”
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.
οὗτος ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν νυκτός, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Ῥαββί, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀπὸ θεοῦ ἐλήλυθας διδάσκαλος∙ οὐδεὶς γὰρ ταῦτα τὰ σημεῖα δύναται ποιεῖν ἃ σὺ ποιεῖς, ἐὰν μὴ ᾖ ὁ θεὸς μετ’ αὐτοῦ.
houtos ēlthen pros auton nyktos, kai eipen autō, Rhabbi, oidamen hoti apo theou elēlythas didaskalos; oudeis gar tauta ta sēmeia dynatai poiein ha sy poieis, ean mē ē ho theos met’ autou.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I tell you: unless a person is born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, ἐὰν μή τις γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν, οὐ δύναται ἰδεῖν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ.
Apekrithē ho Iēsous kai eipen autō, Amēn amēn legō soi, ean mē tis gennēthē anōthen, ou dynatai idein tēn basileian tou theou.
Nicodemus asked, “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 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?
Λέγει πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ Νικόδημος, Πῶς δύναται ἄνθρωπος γεννηθῆναι γέρων ὤν; Μὴ δύναται εἰς τὴν κοιλίαν τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ δεύτερον εἰσελθεῖν καὶ γεννηθῆναι;
Legei pros auton ho Nikodēmos, Pōs dynatai anthrōpos gennēthēnai gerōn ōn? Mē dynatai eis tēn koilian tēs mētros autou deuteron eiselthein kai gennēthēnai?
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you: unless a person is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
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.
Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς, Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, ἐὰν μή τις γεννηθῇ ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ πνεύματος, οὐ δύναται εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ.
Apekrithē Iēsous, Amēn amēn legō soi, ean mē tis gennēthē ex hydatos kai pneumatos, ou dynatai eiselthein eis tēn basileian tou theou.
Human beings give birth to human life. The Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς σάρξ ἐστιν∙ καὶ τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος πνεῦμά ἐστιν.
To gegennēmenon ek tēs sarkos sarx estin; kai to gegennēmenon ek tou pneumatos pneuma estin.
Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born again from above.’
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Μὴ θαυμάσῃς ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, Δεῖ ὑμᾶς γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν.
Mē thaumasēs hoti eipon soi, Dei hymas gennēthēnai anōthen.
The wind blows wherever it wants. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. That is how it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Τὸ πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ, καὶ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀκούεις, ἀλλ’ οὐκ οἶδας πόθεν ἔρχεται καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγει∙ οὕτως ἐστὶν πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος.
To pneuma hopou thelei pnei, kai tēn phōnēn autou akoueis, all’ ouk oidas pothen erchetai kai pou hypagei; houtōs estin pas ho gegennēmenos ek tou pneumatos.
Nicodemus asked Him, “How can these things happen?”
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Ἀπεκρίθη Νικόδημος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Πῶς δύναται ταῦτα γενέσθαι;
Apekrithē Nikodēmos kai eipen autō, Pōs dynatai tauta genesthai?
Jesus replied, “You are a teacher of Israel, and you do not understand these things?
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Σὺ εἶ ὁ διδάσκαλος τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ ταῦτα οὐ γινώσκεις;
Apekrithē Iēsous kai eipen autō, Sy ei ho didaskalos tou Israēl, kai tauta ou ginōskeis?
Truly, truly, I tell you: We speak about what We know and testify about what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι ὅτι ὃ οἴδαμεν λαλοῦμεν, καὶ ὃ ἑωράκαμεν μαρτυροῦμεν∙ καὶ τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἡμῶν οὐ λαμβάνετε.
Amēn amēn legō soi hoti ho oidamen laloumen, kai ho heōrakamen martyroumen; kai tēn martyrian hēmōn ou lambanete.
If I have told you about things happening here on earth and you do not believe Me, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Εἰ τὰ ἐπίγεια εἶπον ὑμῖν καὶ οὐ πιστεύετε, πῶς, ἐὰν εἴπω ὑμῖν τὰ ἐπουράνια, πιστεύσετε;
Ei ta epigeia eipon hymin kai ou pisteuete, pōs, ean eipō hymin ta epourania, pisteusete?
No one has gone up into heaven except the One who came down from heaven—the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, εἰ μὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ ὢν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ.
Kai oudeis anabebēken eis ton ouranon, ei mē ho ek tou ouranou katabas, ho huios tou anthrōpou ho ōn en tō ouranō.
Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, the Son of Man must also be lifted up,
¶ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Καὶ καθὼς Μωσῆς ὕψωσεν τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου∙
Kai kathōs Mōsēs hypsōsen ton ophin en tē erēmō, houtōs hypsōthēnai dei ton huion tou anthrōpou;
so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται, ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
hina pas ho pisteuōn eis auton mē apolētai, all’ echē zōēn aiōnion.
This is how deeply God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.
¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται, ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
Houtōs gar ēgapēsen ho theos ton kosmon, hōste ton huion autou ton monogenē edōken, hina pas ho pisteuōn eis auton mē apolētai, all’ echē zōēn aiōnion.
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world could be saved through Him.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ’ ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι’ αὐτοῦ.
Ou gar apesteilen ho theos ton huion autou eis ton kosmon hina krinē ton kosmon, all’ hina sōthē ho kosmos di’ autou.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned. But whoever refuses to believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
¶ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν οὐ κρίνεται∙ ὁ δὲ μὴ πιστεύων ἤδη κέκριται, ὅτι μὴ πεπίστευκεν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ μονογενοῦς υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ.
Ho pisteuōn eis auton ou krinetai; ho de mē pisteuōn ēdē kekritai, hoti mē pepisteuken eis to onoma tou monogenous huiou tou theou.
This is the basis of that judgment: the Light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the Light because the things they were doing were evil.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ κρίσις, ὅτι τὸ φῶς ἐλήλυθεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον, καὶ ἠγάπησαν οἱ ἄνθρωποι μᾶλλον τὸ σκότος ἢ τὸ φῶς∙ ἦν γὰρ πονηρὰ αὐτῶν τὰ ἔργα.
Hautē de estin hē krisis, hoti to phōs elēlythen eis ton kosmon, kai ēgapēsan hoi anthrōpoi mallon to skotos ē to phōs; ēn gar ponēra autōn ta erga.
Everyone who practices evil hates the Light and refuses to come into the Light because he does not want his actions exposed.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Πᾶς γὰρ ὁ φαῦλα πράσσων μισεῖ τὸ φῶς, καὶ οὐκ ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα μὴ ἐλεγχθῇ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
Pas gar ho phaula prassōn misei to phōs, kai ouk erchetai pros to phōs, hina mē elenchthē ta erga autou.
But the person who lives according to the truth comes into the Light, so that it can be clearly seen that what he does is being done in God.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Ὁ δὲ ποιῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα φανερωθῇ αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι ἐν θεῷ ἐστιν εἰργασμένα.
Ho de poiōn tēn alētheian erchetai pros to phōs, hina phanerōthē autou ta erga, hoti en theō estin eirgasmena.
After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside. He spent some time there with them, and people were being baptized.
¶ After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
Μετὰ ταῦτα ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν γῆν∙ καὶ ἐκεῖ διέτριβεν μετ’ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐβάπτιζεν.
Meta tauta ēlthen ho Iēsous kai hoi mathētai autou eis tēn Ioudaian gēn; kai ekei dietriben met’ autōn kai ebaptizen.
John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim because there was plenty of water there, and people kept coming to be baptized.
¶ And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
Ἦν δὲ καὶ Ἰωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν Αἰνὼν ἐγγὺς τοῦ Σαλήμ, ὅτι ὕδατα πολλὰ ἦν ἐκεῖ∙ καὶ παρεγίνοντο καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο.
Ēn de kai Iōannēs baptizōn en Ainōn engys tou Salēm, hoti hydata polla ēn ekei; kai pareginonto kai ebaptizonto.
John had not yet been put in prison.
For John was not yet cast into prison.
Οὔπω γὰρ ἦν βεβλημένος εἰς τὴν φυλακὴν ὁ Ἰωάννης.
Oupō gar ēn beblēmenos eis tēn phylakēn ho Iōannēs.
A dispute arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jewish man about ceremonial purification.
¶ Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
Ἐγένετο οὖν ζήτησις ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν Ἰωάννου μετὰ Ἰουδαίου περὶ καθαρισμοῦ.
Egeneto oun zētēsis ek tōn mathētōn Iōannou meta Ioudaiou peri katharismou.
They came to John and said, “Rabbi, the Man who was with you across the Jordan—the One you testified about—is now baptizing, and everyone is going to Him!”
And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
Καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ, Ῥαββί, ὃς ἦν μετὰ σοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, ᾧ σὺ μεμαρτύρηκας, ἴδε οὗτος βαπτίζει, καὶ πάντες ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτόν.
Kai ēlthon pros ton Iōannēn kai eipon autō, Rhabbi, hos ēn meta sou peran tou Iordanou, hō sy memartyrēkas, ide houtos baptizei, kai pantes erchontai pros auton.
John answered, “A person can receive only what God gives him from heaven.
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰωάννης καὶ εἶπεν, Οὐ δύναται ἄνθρωπος λαμβάνειν οὐδέν, ἐὰν μὴ ᾖ δεδομένον αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.
Apekrithē Iōannēs kai eipen, Ou dynatai anthrōpos lambanein ouden, ean mē ē dedomenon autō ek tou ouranou.
You yourselves heard me say, ‘I am not the Christ. I was sent ahead of Him.’
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
Αὐτοὶ ὑμεῖς μαρτυρεῖτε ὅτι εἶπον, Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐγὼ ὁ χριστός, ἀλλ’ ὅτι Ἀπεσταλμένος εἰμὶ ἔμπροσθεν ἐκείνου.
Autoi hymeis martyreite hoti eipon, Ouk eimi egō ho christos, all’ hoti Apestalmenos eimi emprosthen ekeinou.
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The bridegroom’s friend stands beside him, listens for his voice, and is filled with joy when he hears him. That joy is mine, and now it is complete.
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Ὁ ἔχων τὴν νύμφην, νυμφίος ἐστίν∙ ὁ δὲ φίλος τοῦ νυμφίου, ὁ ἑστηκὼς καὶ ἀκούων αὐτοῦ, χαρᾷ χαίρει διὰ τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ νυμφίου∙ αὕτη οὖν ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ πεπλήρωται.
Ho echōn tēn nymphēn, nymphios estin; ho de philos tou nymphiou, ho hestēkōs kai akouōn autou, chara chairei dia tēn phōnēn tou nymphiou; hautē oun hē chara hē emē peplērōtai.
He must become greater and greater; I must become less and less.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Ἐκεῖνον δεῖ αὐξάνειν, ἐμὲ δὲ ἐλαττοῦσθαι.
Ekeinon dei auxanein, eme de elattousthai.
The One who comes from above is above everyone. The person who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks from an earthly perspective. The One who comes from heaven is above everyone.
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
Ὁ ἄνωθεν ἐρχόμενος ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν. Ὁ ὢν ἐκ τῆς γῆς, ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἐστιν, καὶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς λαλεῖ∙ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐρχόμενος ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν.
Ho anōthen erchomenos epanō pantōn estin. Ho ōn ek tēs gēs, ek tēs gēs estin, kai ek tēs gēs lalei; ho ek tou ouranou erchomenos epanō pantōn estin.
He testifies about what He has seen and heard, yet people refuse to accept His testimony.
And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
Καὶ ὃ ἑώρακεν καὶ ἤκουσεν, τοῦτο μαρτυρεῖ∙ καὶ τὴν μαρτυρίαν αὐτοῦ οὐδεὶς λαμβάνει.
Kai ho heōraken kai ēkousen, touto martyrei; kai tēn martyrian autou oudeis lambanei.
But whoever does accept His testimony confirms that God is truthful.
He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
Ὁ λαβὼν αὐτοῦ τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἐσφράγισεν ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἀληθής ἐστιν.
Ho labōn autou tēn martyrian esphragisen hoti ho theos alēthēs estin.
The One God sent speaks the very words of God, because God gives Him the Spirit without limit.
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Ὃν γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεός, τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ θεοῦ λαλεῖ∙ οὐ γὰρ ἐκ μέτρου δίδωσιν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα.
Hon gar apesteilen ho theos, ta rhēmata tou theou lalei; ou gar ek metrou didōsin ho theos to pneuma.
The Father loves the Son and has placed everything into His hands.
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Ὁ πατὴρ ἀγαπᾷ τὸν υἱόν, καὶ πάντα δέδωκεν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ.
Ho patēr agapa ton huion, kai panta dedōken en tē cheiri autou.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever refuses to obey the Son will not see life; God’s judgment remains upon him.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν υἱὸν ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον∙ ὁ δὲ ἀπειθῶν τῷ υἱῷ, οὐκ ὄψεται ζωήν, ἀλλ’ ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ μένει ἐπ’ αὐτόν.
Ho pisteuōn eis ton huion echei zōēn aiōnion; ho de apeithōn tō huiō, ouk opsetai zōēn, all’ hē orgē tou theou menei ep’ auton.