Bible Study Blog | The Bible Experiment

Verse 1

KJV There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

WEB Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

BSB Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.

Verse 2

KJV The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

WEB He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”

BSB He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”

Verse 3

KJV Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

WEB Jesus answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”

BSB Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Verse 4

KJV 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?

WEB Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

BSB “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”

Verse 5

KJV 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.

WEB Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.

BSB Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Verse 6

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

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

BSB Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.

Verse 7

KJV Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

WEB Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’

BSB Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’

Verse 8

KJV The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

WEB The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

BSB The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Verse 9

KJV Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

WEB Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”

BSB “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

Verse 10

KJV Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

WEB Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things?

BSB “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things?

Verse 11

KJV Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

WEB Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness.

BSB Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.

Verse 12

KJV If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

WEB If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

BSB If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

Verse 13

KJV And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

WEB No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.

BSB No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.

Verse 14

KJV And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

WEB As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

BSB Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

Verse 15

KJV That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

WEB that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

BSB that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

Verse 16

KJV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

WEB For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

BSB For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Verse 17

KJV For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

WEB For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

BSB For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Verse 18

KJV He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

WEB He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.

BSB Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Verse 19

KJV And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

WEB This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil.

BSB And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.

Verse 20

KJV For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

WEB For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.

BSB Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

Verse 21

KJV But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

WEB But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

BSB But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”

Verse 22

KJV After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

WEB After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized.

BSB After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.

Verse 23

KJV And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

WEB John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came and were baptized;

BSB Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.

Verse 24

KJV For John was not yet cast into prison.

WEB for John was not yet thrown into prison.

BSB (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)

Verse 25

KJV Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

WEB Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.

BSB Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.

Verse 26

KJV And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

WEB They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”

BSB So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”

Verse 27

KJV John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

WEB John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.

BSB John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.

Verse 28

KJV Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

WEB You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’

BSB You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’

Verse 29

KJV He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

WEB He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore my joy is made full.

BSB The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

Verse 30

KJV He must increase, but I must decrease.

WEB He must increase, but I must decrease.

BSB He must increase; I must decrease.

Verse 31

KJV He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

WEB “He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

BSB The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.

Verse 32

KJV And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

WEB What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.

BSB He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.

Verse 33

KJV He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

WEB He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.

BSB Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.

Verse 34

KJV For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

WEB For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.

BSB For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

Verse 35

KJV The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

WEB The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

BSB The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.

Verse 36

KJV He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

WEB One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

BSB Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

John 3

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