OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 3:3

3:3a

Jesus replied: This is the start of a new paragraph. So in some languages it may be helpful to make it explicit that Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus. For example:

Jesus answered Nicodemus

The Greek uses two verbs here, which can be translated as “answered” and “said.” Most English translations, as the BSB, just use one verb, because that is more natural in English. However, it may be more natural in some languages to use two verbs. For example:

Jesus answered and said to him (NABRE)

Truly, truly, I tell you: Jesus often used the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Truly, truly, I tell you. He used the phrase to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and totally reliable, and that people should listen carefully to it.

Sometimes it introduces a serious warning or something that he predicted. Here it warns that a person must become new before they can enter God’s kingdom. In some languages you may need to translate the phrase in different ways in different contexts. Here you should indicate that this is an introduction to a warning.

The same phrase appears in 1:51. See the note there. Do not translate this phrase in a way that implies that Jesus did not tell the truth at other times. Here are some possible translation models:

I am telling you the truth (GNT)

I tell you the truth

I tell you for certain (NCV)

I assure you

you: The pronoun you is singular and refers to Nicodemus.

3:3b

no one can see the kingdom of God: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as see the kingdom of God means “enter the kingdom of God.” It refers to becoming one of God’s people and living in his kingdom, under his rule.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

become one of God’s people whom he rules

live in God’s kingdom

join God’s kingdom

the kingdom of God: This phrase refers to God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. It does not refer to a land or country that God rules. Rather, it refers to the relationship that God has with his people. He leads, protects, and cares for them. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king. See KBT Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven.

See how you translated this phrase in, for example, Luke 6:20. There are at least two ways to translate this phrase:

• Use a noun. For example:

  God’s rule

  God’s rule as king

  God’s government

• Use a verb. For example:

  God ruling his people

unless he is born again: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as born again is ambiguous. There are two ways to understand it:

1. It means to be born again, that is, born a second time. For example:

   born again (GNT) (BSB, NIV, KJV, GNT, RSV, NASB, ESV, NLT, NCV)

2. It means to be born from above, that is, born from God, or with a spiritual birth. For example:

   born from above (NJB) (NRSV, NJB, NET, GW, CEV)

Either meaning is acceptable. Both have strong support, and the author was probably deliberately ambiguous. It may be possible to say “born in a new way” (see CEV footnote) in order to retain both ideas. If you must choose between the interpretations, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). That interpretation makes a better connection with Nicodemus’ next question in 3:4. The NASB is therefore used here in the Notes and in the Display.