Bible Strands
John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses Nicodemus during a nighttime inquiry about spiritual rebirth. He responds directly to Nicodemus’s question about how an aged man can re-enter his mother’s womb.
The words — Ἐὰν (ean) combines with a negative to form the conditional “unless,” marking the necessary boundary for entering God’s kingdom. The phrase “born of water and the Spirit” (ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ πνεύματος) specifies the dual means of this new birth.
The thread — The connection between water, Spirit, and cleansing appears in Ezekiel 36:25, Ephesians 5:26, and Acts 2:38.
Why it lands — The text states that physical descent cannot produce spiritual life and that entrance into God’s kingdom requires a birth initiated by water and the Spirit. It requires a reader to abandon reliance on natural lineage and submit to divine transformation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 36:25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
- Ephesians 5:26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
- Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Peter 3:21 And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- 1 Corinthians 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
- 1 John 5:6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.
- Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
- Matthew 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- Titus 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
- John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”