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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>John 3 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/john/3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/john/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > John 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../john/2.htm" title="John 2">◄</a> John 3 <a href="../john/4.htm" title="John 4">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/john/3.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Jesus Talks with Nicodemus</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Now there was a man from the Pharisees, a leader of the Jews, whose name was Nicodemus. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>He came to Jesus<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:2 Lit. him">a</a></span> at night and told him, “Rabbi,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:2 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher">b</a></span> we know that you have come from God as a teacher, because no one can perform these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Jesus replied to him, <span class="red">“Truly, I tell you<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:3 The Gk. pronoun you is sing.">c</a></span> emphatically, unless a person is born from above<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:3 Or born again">d</a></span> he cannot see the kingdom of God.”</span></p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Nicodemus asked 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?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Jesus answered, <span class="red">“Truly, I tell you<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:5 The Gk. pronoun you is sing.">e</a></span> emphatically, unless a person is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:5 Other mss. read of heaven">f</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Don’t be astonished that I told you, ‘All of you must be born from above.’<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:7 Or born again">g</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>The wind<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:8 The Gk. word can be translated both wind and spirit.">h</a></span> blows where it wants to. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. That’s the way it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”</span></p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Nicodemus asked him, “How can that be?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Jesus answered him, <span class="red">“You’re the teacher of Israel, and you can’t understand this? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Truly, I tell you<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:11 The Gk. pronoun you is sing.">i</a></span> emphatically, we know what we’re talking about, and we testify about what we’ve seen. Yet you people<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:11 The Gk. lacks people">j</a></span> do not accept our testimony. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>If I have told you people<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:12 The Gk. lacks people">k</a></span> about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?</span></p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="red">“No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:13 Other mss. lack who is in heaven">l</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:15 The quotation possibly concludes with this verse instead of with verse 21.">m</a></span> </span></p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="red">“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not be lost but have eternal life. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Because God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s unique Son. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>And this is the basis for judgment: The light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Everyone who practices wickedness hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his actions may not be exposed.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:20 Other mss. read as being evil">n</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may become evident that his actions have God’s approval.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:21 Lit. actions are in God">o</a></span> </span></p> <p class="heading">John the Baptist Talks about Jesus</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside. He spent some time there with them and began baptizing. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:23 Lit. They">p</a></span> kept coming and were being baptized, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>since John had not yet been thrown into prison.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Then a controversy about ritual purification sprang up between a certain Jew<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:25 Other mss. read between the Jews; i.e. between certain Jewish leaders">q</a></span> and John’s disciples, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>so they went to John and told him, “Rabbi,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:26 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher">r</a></span> the man who was with you on the other side<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:26 i.e. the east side">s</a></span> of the Jordan, the one about whom you testified—look, he’s baptizing, and everyone is going to him!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>John replied, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>You yourselves are my<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:28 Other mss. lack my">t</a></span> witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:28 Or Christ">u</a></span> but I have been sent ahead of him.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>It is the bridegroom who gets the bride, yet the bridegroom’s friend, who merely<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:29 The Gk. lacks merely">v</a></span> stands by and listens for him, is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That’s why this joy of mine is now complete. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>He must become more important, but I must become less important.”</p> <p class="heading">The One who Comes from Above</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>The one who comes from above is superior to everything. The one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:31 Lit. of the earth">w</a></span> The one who comes from heaven is superior to everything. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>He testifies about what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>The person who has accepted his testimony has acknowledged that God is truthful.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:33 Or true">x</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>The one whom God sent speaks the words of God, because God<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:34 Lit. he">y</a></span> does not give the Spirit in limited measure to him.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:34 The Gk. lacks to him">z</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>The Father loves the Son and has put everything in his hands. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/john/3-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 3:2 Lit. <i>him</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 3:02<i>Rabbi</i> is Heb. for <i>Master </i>and/or<i> Teacher</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 3:3 The Gk. pronoun <i>you</i> is sing.<br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 3:3 Or <i>born again</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 3:5 The Gk. pronoun <i>you</i> is sing.<br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 3:5 Other mss. read <i>of heaven</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 3:7 Or <i>born again</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 3:8 The Gk. word can be translated both <i>wind</i> and <i>spirit.</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 3:11 The Gk. pronoun <i>you</i> is sing.<br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 3:11 The Gk. lacks <i>people</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 3:12 The Gk. lacks <i>people</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 3:13 Other mss. lack <i>who is in heaven</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 3:15 The quotation possibly concludes with this verse instead of with verse 21.<br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 3:20 Other mss. read <i>as being evil</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 3:21 Lit. <i>actions are in God</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 3:23 Lit. <i>They</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 3:25 Other mss. read <i>between the Jews</i>; i.e. between certain Jewish leaders<br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 3:26<i>Rabbi</i> is Heb. for <i>Master </i>and/or<i> Teacher</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 3:26 i.e. the east side<br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 3:28 Other mss. lack <i>my</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 3:28 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 3:29 The Gk. lacks <i>merely</i><br /><span class="fnb">w</span> 3:31 Lit. <i>of the earth</i><br /><span class="fnb">x</span> 3:33 Or <i>true</i><br /><span class="fnb">y</span> 3:34 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">z</span> 3:34 The Gk. lacks <i>to him</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../john/2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../john/4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/john/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>