Nicodemus — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin mentioned only in John’s Gospel (Jn 3:1-15; 7:50-52; 19:39-41). According to John 3, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and acknowledged him as a teacher sent by God. He was convinced that Jesus could not perform such things if God were not with him. Following an exchange concerning the need to be born again, Jesus asked how Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish religious court, could fail to understand such things. At that time he evidently made no profession of faith, but later he did defend Jesus before the Sanhedrin (7:50-52). After Jesus’ death, Nicodemus openly assisted Joseph of Arimathea with the burial of his body (19:39-42).

Show passage in OET: JHN 7:50–52

OET-RV JHN 7:50

50 Now Nikodemos (the one who had previously visited Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus)) spoke up,

OET-RV JHN 7:51

51 “Since when did our rules allow us to judge a person before we’ve even heard them out and investigated what they’re doing?”

OET-RV JHN 7:52

52 “So do you come from Galil as well?” they sneered, “Look in the scriptures and you’ll soon see that no prophet emerges out of Galil.”

OET-LV JHN 7:50

50 Nikodaʸmos the one having _come to him earlier, being one of them Is _saying, to them,

OET-LV JHN 7:51

51 Not the law of _us is _judging the person, if not first may _hear from him, and may _know what he _is _doing?

OET-LV JHN 7:52

52 They _answered and said to _him:
Are not you from the Galilaia also?
Search and see that a_prophet is_ not _being _raised out _of the Galilaia.

Show passage in OET: JHN 19:39–41

OET-RV JHN 19:39

39 Nikodemos (the one who had first visited Yeshua at night) also came, bringing around 30kg of burial spices.

OET-RV JHN 19:40

40 So they took Yeshua’s body and wrapped it around with linen strips with the spices as per the Jewish burial customs.

OET-RV JHN 19:41

41 There was a garden out at the place where Yeshua had been executed, and in the garden there was a new tomb that hadn’t been used yet.

OET-LV JHN 19:39

39 And Nikodaʸmos also came, the one having _come to him at _the first by _night, bringing a_wrapping of _myrrh and aloe, about a_hundred pounds.

OET-LV JHN 19:40

40 Therefore they _took the body the of_Yaʸsous, and they _bound it in _linen _cloths with the spices, as the_custom of _the Youdaiōns is to _be _burying.

OET-LV JHN 19:41

41 And there _was a_garden in the place where he _was _executed _on _a _stake, and in the garden a_ new _tomb, in which not _yet no _one was having _been _laid.

Show passage in OET: JHN 19:39–42

OET-RV JHN 19:39

39 Nikodemos (the one who had first visited Yeshua at night) also came, bringing around 30kg of burial spices.

OET-RV JHN 19:40

40 So they took Yeshua’s body and wrapped it around with linen strips with the spices as per the Jewish burial customs.

OET-RV JHN 19:41

41 There was a garden out at the place where Yeshua had been executed, and in the garden there was a new tomb that hadn’t been used yet.

OET-RV JHN 19:42

42 So because it was the preparation day and because the tomb was nearby, they laid his body in there.

OET-LV JHN 19:39

39 And Nikodaʸmos also came, the one having _come to him at _the first by _night, bringing a_wrapping of _myrrh and aloe, about a_hundred pounds.

OET-LV JHN 19:40

40 Therefore they _took the body the of_Yaʸsous, and they _bound it in _linen _cloths with the spices, as the_custom of _the Youdaiōns is to _be _burying.

OET-LV JHN 19:41

41 And there _was a_garden in the place where he _was _executed _on _a _stake, and in the garden a_ new _tomb, in which not _yet no _one was having _been _laid.

OET-LV JHN 19:42

42 Therefore because _of the preparation day of _the Youdaiōns, because near was the tomb, they _laid the Yaʸsous there.

Jump to OET JHN 7:50–52 section.

Jump to OET JHN 19:39–41 section.

Jump to OET JHN 19:39–42 section.

Some scholars suggest that Nicodemus was one of the Jewish leaders who believed in Jesus but did not confess him openly for fear of excommunication (12:42). Tradition subsequently held that he belonged to the household of faith, as one persuaded to believe through the message and deeds of Jesus, but remained intimidated by the religious establishment.