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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

John 3:4–6

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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?
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.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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From verse 4

  1. 1 Corinthians 2:14Rank 1 from verse 4
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    14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  2. 1 Corinthians 1:18Rank 2 from verse 4
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    18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

  3. John 3:3Rank 3 from verse 4
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    3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

  4. John 4:11–12Rank 4 from verse 4
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    11The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

    12Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

  5. John 6:53Rank 5 from verse 4
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    53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

  6. John 6:60Rank 6 from verse 4
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    60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

From verse 5

  1. Ezekiel 36:25–27Rank 1 from verse 5
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    25¶ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

    26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

    27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

  2. Ephesians 5:26Rank 2 from verse 5
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    26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

  3. Acts 2:38Rank 3 from verse 5
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    38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

  4. 1 Peter 3:21Rank 4 from verse 5
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    21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

  5. 1 Corinthians 6:11Rank 5 from verse 5
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    11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

  6. 1 John 5:6–8Rank 6 from verse 5
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    6This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

    7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

    8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

  7. Isaiah 44:3–4Rank 7 from verse 5
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    3For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

    4And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

  8. Matthew 3:11Rank 8 from verse 5
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    11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

  9. Titus 3:4–7Rank 9 from verse 5
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    4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

    5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

    6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

    7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

  10. 2 Corinthians 5:17–18Rank 10 from verse 5
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    17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

    18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

  11. John 3:3Rank 11 from verse 5
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    3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

  12. Mark 16:16Rank 12 from verse 5
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    16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

  13. 1 Corinthians 2:12Rank 13 from verse 5
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    12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

  14. 1 John 5:1Rank 14 from verse 5
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    1WHOSOEVER believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

  15. Galatians 6:15Rank 15 from verse 5
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    15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

  16. Romans 14:17Rank 16 from verse 5
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    17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

  17. 1 John 2:29Rank 17 from verse 5
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    29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

  18. John 1:13Rank 18 from verse 5
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    13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

  19. Matthew 18:3Rank 19 from verse 5
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    3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

  20. 1 Peter 1:2Rank 20 from verse 5
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    2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

  21. Luke 13:3Rank 21 from verse 5
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    3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

  22. Matthew 28:19Rank 22 from verse 5
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    19¶ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

  23. Acts 3:19Rank 23 from verse 5
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    19¶ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

  24. Ephesians 2:4–10Rank 24 from verse 5
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    4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

    5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

    6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

    7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

    8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

    9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

    10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

  25. 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14Rank 25 from verse 5
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    13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

    14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  26. Luke 13:24Rank 26 from verse 5
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    24¶ Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

  27. Matthew 5:20Rank 27 from verse 5
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    20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

  28. Romans 8:2Rank 28 from verse 5
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    2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

  29. Luke 13:5Rank 29 from verse 5
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    5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

From verse 6

  1. Galatians 5:16–21Rank 1 from verse 6
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    16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

    17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

    18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

    19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

    20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

    21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

  2. Ezekiel 36:26–27Rank 2 from verse 6
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    26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

    27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

  3. Romans 8:4–9Rank 3 from verse 6
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    4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

    5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

    6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

    7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

    8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

    9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

  4. 2 Corinthians 5:17Rank 4 from verse 6
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    17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

  5. 1 Corinthians 15:47–50Rank 5 from verse 6
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    47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

    48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

    49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

    50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

  6. 1 Corinthians 6:17Rank 6 from verse 6
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    17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

  7. Romans 7:18Rank 7 from verse 6
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    18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

  8. 1 John 3:9Rank 8 from verse 6
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    9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

  9. Genesis 6:12Rank 9 from verse 6
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    12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

  10. Romans 8:13Rank 10 from verse 6
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    13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

  11. Job 14:4Rank 11 from verse 6
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    4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

  12. Psalms 51:10Rank 12 from verse 6
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    10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

  13. Ezekiel 11:19–20Rank 13 from verse 6
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    19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

    20That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

  14. Job 25:4Rank 14 from verse 6
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    4How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

  15. Colossians 2:11Rank 15 from verse 6
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    11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

  16. Ephesians 2:3Rank 16 from verse 6
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    3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

  17. Galatians 5:24Rank 17 from verse 6
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    24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

  18. John 1:13Rank 18 from verse 6
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    13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

  19. Genesis 6:5Rank 19 from verse 6
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    5¶ And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

  20. Romans 7:5Rank 20 from verse 6
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    5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

  21. Genesis 5:3Rank 21 from verse 6
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    3¶ And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

  22. Job 15:14–16Rank 22 from verse 6
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    14What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

    15Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

    16How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

  23. Romans 7:25–1Rank 23 from verse 6
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    Verse text is unavailable.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

John 3:4

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

old

↗

1. Advanced in age or existing for a long time. 2. Of the stated or specified age. 3. Ancient, former, previous, or worn.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

enter

↗

To go or come in; to penetrate; to become an ingredient or constituent part; to enter the mind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

time

↗

A particular portion or part of duration, whether past, present or future.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mother

↗

Sense 1: A female parent. Sense 2: Figuratively, a source, chief city, or maternal relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

womb

↗

Sense 1: The bodily place in a female where a child is conceived and carried before birth. Sense 2: A source pictured as such a place.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

John 3:5

COMBINED MEANING

answered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of answer, meaning to reply, respond, or give account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

except

↗

Sense 1: Unless; with the exclusion of; apart from. Sense 2: To exclude or leave out. Sense 3: To object or take exception.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

water

↗

Sense 1: The common liquid necessary for life. Sense 2: As a verb, to supply with water, irrigate, or cause to drink.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

spirit

↗

Sense 1: An immaterial living or personal being distinct from a body. Sense 2: The inward life, disposition, mind, or courage of a person. Sense 3: The Holy Spirit, the divine Spirit of God.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

enter

↗

To go or come in; to penetrate; to become an ingredient or constituent part; to enter the mind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

kingdom

↗

The rule, royal authority, government, realm, territory, subjects, or dominion of a king.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

John 3:6

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

flesh

↗

Sense 1: The soft substance of the body. Sense 2: The body, human nature, kindred, or mankind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

spirit

↗

Sense 1: An immaterial living or personal being distinct from a body. Sense 2: The inward life, disposition, mind, or courage of a person. Sense 3: The Holy Spirit, the divine Spirit of God.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · John 3:1–13

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

3:1THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

3:2The 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.

3:3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

3:4Nicodemus 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?

Selected passage

3:5Jesus 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.

Selected passage

3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Selected passage

3:7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

3:8The 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.

3:9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

3:10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

3:11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

3:12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

3:13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

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