John 3:4
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus has just told Nicodemus he must be born again, and Nicodemus — taking it literally — asks how a grown man could possibly re-enter his mother's womb and be born a second time.
What Does John 3:4 Mean?
Nicodemus is a respected teacher and member of the Jewish ruling council who has come to Jesus by night. He recognizes Jesus as a teacher sent from God, but the words about a new birth catch him completely off guard. His question is sincere, not mocking — he simply cannot imagine what Jesus could mean.
Nicodemus's confusion is the point. He is picturing physical birth, while Jesus means something of a different order — a spiritual birth, one that comes from above by God's Spirit. Even a learned, devout man cannot produce this birth by reasoning or effort; it is given from above. His honest puzzlement opens the door to one of Jesus's most important teachings.
In the Original Language
Greek · anōthen (ἄνωθεν) — the word Jesus used for "born again" carries two meanings at once: "again" and "from above." Nicodemus hears only "again," which is why he imagines a second trip to the womb; Jesus means "from above" — a birth that comes from God.