YHN 3:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Someone that’s born from a body is flesh and bone, but someone that’s born from God’s spirit is spiritual.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT What has been born from the flesh is flesh, and what has been born from the Spirit is spirit.

UST If a human being gives birth to a person, that person is a human being. But those who are born again by the work of God’s Spirit have a new spiritual nature that God makes within them.

BLB That having been born of the flesh is flesh, and that having been born of the Spirit is spirit.

AICNT “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

OEB All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual.

LSB That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.

WEBBE That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

LSV that which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.

FBV “What's born of the flesh is flesh, and what's born of the Spirit is Spirit.

TCNT That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

T4T Humans give birth to humans. But those who are born again as a result of what God’s Spirit does receive a new spiritual nature from God.

LEB What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

BBE That which has birth from the flesh is flesh, and that which has birth from the Spirit is spirit.

Moff What is born of the flesh is flesh: what is born of the Spirit is Spirit.

Wymth Whatever has been born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever has been born of the Spirit is spirit.

ASV That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

DRA That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.

YLT that which hath been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which hath been born of the Spirit is spirit.

Drby That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

RV That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

SLT That born of flesh is flesh; and that born of the Spirit is spirit.

Wbstr That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.

KJB-1769 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

KJB-1611 That which is borne of the flesh, is flesh, and that which is borne of the spirit, is spirit.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps That which is borne of the fleshe, is fleshe: and that which is borne of the spirite, is spirite.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Gnva That which is borne of the flesh, is flesh: and that that is borne of the Spirit, is spirit.
(That which is born of the flesh, is flesh: and that that is born of the Spirit, is spirit. )

Cvdl That which is borne of flesh, is flesh: & that which is borne of the sprete, is sprete.
(That which is born of flesh, is flesh: and that which is born of the spirit, is spirit.)

TNT That which is boren of the flesshe is flesshe: and that which is boren of the sprete is sprete.
(That which is boren of the flesh is flesh: and that which is boren of the spirit is spirit. )

Wycl `That that is borun of the fleisch, is fleisch; and `that that is borun of spirit, is spirit.
(That that is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that that is born of spirit, is spirit.)

Luth Was vom Fleisch geboren wird, das ist Fleisch, und was vom Geist geboren wird, das ist Geist.
(What from_the flesh born becomes, the is flesh, and what/which from_the spirit born becomes, the is spirit.)

ClVg Quod natum est ex carne, caro est: et quod natum est ex spiritu, spiritus est.[fn]
(That born it_is from flesh/meat, flesh/meat it_is: and that born it_is from in_spirit, spirit it_is. )

3.6 Quod natum. Hanc spiritualem nativitatem distinguit a carnali, dicens: Quod natum est. Ex carne. Id est, ex primo homine per carnis successionem carnale est. Nomine carnis, non solum carnem, sed totum carnalem hominem significat. Sic econtra totus homo spiritualis anima et corpore spiritus dicitur. Et quod, etc. Verbo et sacramento spiritus invisibiliter adest quo natus ex Adam ad mortem nascitur, Filius Dei ad vitam, qui non tantum spiritualis dicitur, sed spiritus, quia sicut substantia spiritus est invisibilis, ita invisibiliter per visibile sacramentum efficitur Dei Filius. Spiritus est. Non autem mireris, si sic natum dico spiritum, quia sicut spiritus ubi vult spirat, et nescis unde venit, aut quo vadat, sic est omnis qui natus est ex spiritu.

3.6 That born. This spiritual birth distinguit from carnal, saying: That born it_is. From flesh/meat. That it_is, from at_first man through of_flesh successionem carnale it_is. Nomine of_flesh, not/no only the_flesh, but whole carnalem man means. So econtra the_whole human spiritual the_soul and body spirit it_is_said. And that, etc. Verbo and sacrament spirit invisibiliter is_present where born from Adam to death is_born, Son of_God to life, who/which not/no only spiritual it_is_said, but spirit, because like substance spirit it_is invisibilis, so/thus invisibiliter through visible sacrament it_is_done of_God Son. Spirit it_is. Not/No however you_are_surprised, when/but_if so born I_mean/say spirit, because like spirit where wants spirat, and you_don't_know from_where/who he_came, or where let_it_go, so it_is everyone who/which born it_is from in_spirit.

UGNT τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς, σάρξ ἐστιν; καὶ τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματος, πνεῦμά ἐστιν.
(to gegennaʸmenon ek taʸs sarkos, sarx estin; kai to gegennaʸmenon ek tou Pneumatos, pneuma estin.)

SBL-GNT τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς σάρξ ἐστιν, καὶ τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος πνεῦμά ἐστιν.
(to gegennaʸmenon ek taʸs sarkos sarx estin, kai to gegennaʸmenon ek tou pneumatos pneuma estin.)

RP-GNT Τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς σάρξ ἐστιν· καὶ τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος πνεῦμά ἐστιν.
(To gegennaʸmenon ek taʸs sarkos sarx estin; kai to gegennaʸmenon ek tou pneumatos pneuma estin.)

TC-GNT Τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς σάρξ ἐστι· καὶ τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος πνεῦμά ἐστι.
(To gegennaʸmenon ek taʸs sarkos sarx esti; kai to gegennaʸmenon ek tou pneumatos pneuma esti. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–21: A Pharisee named Nicodemus questioned Jesus

This section tells about how a Pharisee called Nicodemus went to visit Jesus. Jesus told Nicodemus that all people need God to change them. Nicodemus could be sure that Jesus was speaking the truth because Jesus came from God.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus told a Pharisee that he needed to change

Everyone must be born again

All people need God to give them a new birth/life

Paragraph 3:3–8

Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again; that is, he needed God to give him new life. Nicodemus did not understand what he meant.

3:6a

Flesh is born of flesh,

Whoever is born of/from human life/nature possesses/has the life/nature of a human,
Human parents can only give birth to human beings,
Human parents produce human children.

Flesh is born of flesh: This expression speaks of natural human life and how one generation passes it to the next. Parents and children share the same sort of life; human beings always give birth to other human beings. In English the normal way to speak about natural human life is to use the phrase “flesh and blood.” So this clause can be translated in English like this:

Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood. (GW)

is born: This is a passive verb phrase. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
That which is born of the flesh is flesh. (ESV)
Use an active verb, with the parents as subject the first time the word “flesh” is used. For example:
Flesh gives birth to flesh. (NIV)
Human life comes from human parents. (NCV)

flesh: The Greek word that the BSB translates as flesh here refers to human nature and natural human life. It does not imply any sin. In this context the word includes the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of human life. It does not include the spiritual aspect of life. See KBT flesh 2A, and see how you translated flesh in John 1:14a.

3:6b

but spirit is born of the Spirit.

and whoever is born of/from God’s Spirit possesses/has the life/nature of a spirit.
but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual beings.
But God’s Spirit produces spirit children.

but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as but here introduces a second truth in the sentence. This second truth both contrasts with and completes the truth in the previous expression. Use the conjunction that is natural in your language.

spirit is born of the Spirit: This clause compares and contrasts with “Flesh is born of flesh” in 3:6a. So the two clauses should follow a similar pattern to emphasize the differences. For example:

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (NIV)

Human beings come from human parents, and spiritual beings come from the Holy Spirit.

The Greek word that the BSB translates as Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit of God. The word spirit refers to the new nature of a human being which is not flesh. He is a new spiritual person. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

it is the Spirit who gives birth to spirit

but the Holy Spirit gives birth to a spiritual being

but spiritual beings come from the Spirit

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τό γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκός σάρξ ἐστίν καί τό γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματος πνεῦμα ἐστίν)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [What flesh has given birth to]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῆς σαρκὸς, σάρξ ἐστιν

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τό γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκός σάρξ ἐστίν καί τό γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματος πνεῦμα ἐστίν)

Jesus is describing human beings by referring to something associated with them, the flesh they are made of. The word flesh here does not refer to sinful human nature as it does in other verses in the New Testament. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a human being is a human being]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματος

Here, the Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit, who enables people to be born again. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [what has been born again by means of the Holy Spirit]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πνεῦμά

Here, spirit refers to the new spiritual nature that God gives a person when they are born again. (See: bornagain) If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation, as in the UST: [a new spiritual nature]

Parallel YHN 3:6

Section 3:1–21: A Pharisee named Nicodemus questioned Jesus

Paragraph 3:3–8

3:6a

3:6b