Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY
Watchtower
ONLINE LIBRARY
English
  • BIBLE
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • MEETINGS
  • John 3:5
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
    • 5 Jesus answered: “Most truly I say to you, unless anyone is born from water+ and spirit,+ he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

  • John 3:5
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
    • 5 ἀπεκρίθη Answered ὁ the Ἰησοῦς Jesus ᾿Αμὴν Amen ἀμὴν amen λέγω I am saying σοι, to you, ἐὰν If ever μή not τις anyone γεννηθῇ should be generated ἐξ out of ὕδατος water καὶ and πνεύματος, spirit, οὐ not δύναται he is able εἰσελθεῖν to enter εἰς into τὴν the βασιλείαν kingdom τοῦ of the θεοῦ. God.

  • John 3:5
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
    • 5 Jesus answered: “Most truly I say to you, Unless anyone is born from water+ and spirit,*+ he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

  • John 3:5
    The Bible in Living English
    • 5* Jesus answered “Verily, verily I say to you, if one is not born from water and spirit he cannot get into the Reign of God.

  • John 3:5
    American Standard Version
    • 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!

  • John 3:5
    The Emphasized Bible
    • 5 Jesus answered—Verily, verily I say unto thee: Except one be born of water and spirit He cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

  • John 3:5
    King James Version
    • 5 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.

  • John
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1986-2025
    • 3:5 ijwbq article 107; it-1 319; it-2 1173; jy 44; w09 4/1 8-11; w96 7/1 16-17; w95 7/1 9-10; gt chapter 17; g88 2/8 26-27; g86 10/8 26-27

  • John
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985
    • 3:5 w85 12/1 24-25; w82 2/1 19-29; w79 10/1 17-18, 22; hs 114-115; g76 6/22 27-28; g74 8/22 27; ad 1648; g70 2/8 28; w68 733; g62 3/8 28; w61 39; w60 102; w58 606; g57 2/22 6; g55 6/22 10; w54 682; nh 163; el 115; w49 183; w48 121; w47 169; g47 1/22 24; g46 11/22 21; w44 199; ki 284; w43 200; w30 23, 93

  • John
    Research Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses—2019 Edition
    • 3:5

      Bible Questions Answered, article 107

      Insight, Volume 1, p. 319

      Insight, Volume 2, p. 1173

      Jesus—The Way, p. 44

      The Watchtower,

      4/1/2009, pp. 8-9, 10-11

      7/1/1996, pp. 16-17

      7/1/1995, pp. 9-10

      Awake!,

      2/8/1988, pp. 26-27

      10/8/1986, pp. 26-27

  • John Study Notes—Chapter 3
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
    • 3:5

      born from water and spirit: Nicodemus was likely familiar with the baptisms performed by John the Baptist. (Mr 1:4-8; Lu 3:16; Joh 1:31-34) So when Jesus spoke about water, it is reasonable to assume that Nicodemus would have discerned that Jesus was referring to water used for baptism. Nicodemus would also have been familiar with the way the Hebrew Scriptures use the term “spirit of God,” that is, God’s active force. (Ge 41:38; Ex 31:3; Nu 11:17; Jg 3:10; 1Sa 10:6; Isa 63:11) Therefore, when Jesus used the word “spirit,” Nicodemus would have understood it to be holy spirit. Jesus’ own experience illustrates the point he made to Nicodemus. When Jesus was baptized in water, holy spirit descended upon him. So he was “born from water and spirit.” (Mt 3:16, 17; Lu 3:21, 22) At that time, God declared that Jesus was his Son, apparently indicating that he had brought forth Jesus as a spiritual son who had the prospect of returning to heaven. A follower of Jesus who is “born from water” is one who has turned away from his former course of life, repented of his sins, and been baptized in water. Those who are born from both “water and spirit” are begotten, or brought forth, by God to be sons of God with the promise of spirit life in the heavens and with the prospect of ruling in the Kingdom of God.​—Lu 22:30; Ro 8:14-17, 23; Tit 3:5; Heb 6:4, 5.

      spirit: Or “active force.” The Greek word pneuʹma refers here to God’s active force.​—See Glossary.

English Publications (1950-2025)
Log Out
Log In
  • English
  • Share
  • Preferences
  • Copyright © 2025 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Settings
  • JW.ORG
  • Log In
Share