John 3 · Verse 9

John 3:9

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
John 3:9, King James Version

John 3:9 in other translations

BSB“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
WEBNicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”
ASVNicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
YLTNicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How are these things able to happen?'
DARBYNicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be?
BBEAnd Nicodemus said to him, How is it possible for these things to be?
WebsterNicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be?

What does John 3:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 3:9-10
9-10. How, &c.--Though the subject still confounds Nicodemus, the necessity and possibility of the new birth is no longer the point with him, but the nature of it and how it is brought about [Luthardt]. "From this moment Nicodemus says nothing more, but has sunk unto a disciple who has found his true teacher. Therefore the Saviour now graciously advances in His communications of truth, and once more solemnly brings to the mind of this teacher in Israel, now become a learner, his own not guiltless ignorance, that He may then proceed to utter, out of the fulness of His divine knowledge, such farther testimonies both of earthly and heavenly things as his docile scholar may to his own profit receive" [Stier].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. How can these things be? Nicodemus was still unwilling to admit the doctrine unless he understood it; and we have here an instance of a man of rank stumbling at one of the plainest doctrines of religion, and unwilling to admit a truth because he could not understand how it could be, when he daily admitted the truth of facts in other things which he could as little comprehend. And we may learn,

1st. That men will often admit facts on other subjects, and be greatly perplexed by similar facts in religion.

2nd. That no small part of men's difficulties are because they cannot understand how or why a thing is.

3rd. That men of rank and learning are as likely to be perplexed by these things as those in the obscurest and humblest walks of life.

4th. That this is one reason why such men, particularly, so often reject the truths of the gospel. And,

5th. That this is a very unwise treatment of truth, and a way which they do not apply to other things. If the wind cools and refreshes me in summer--if it prostrates the oak or lashes the sea into foam--if it destroys my house or my grain, it matters little how it does this; and so of the Spirit. If it renews my heart, humbles my pride, subdues my sin, and comforts my soul, it is a matter of little importance how it does all this. Sufficient for me is it to know that it is done, and to taste the blessings which flow from the renewing and sanctifying grace of God.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 How can these things be? - Our Lord had very plainly told him how these things could be, and illustrated the new birth by one of the most proper similes that could be chosen; but so intent was this great man an making every thing submit to the testimony of his senses that he appears unwilling to believe any thing, unless he can comprehend it. This is the case with many - they profess to believe because they comprehend; but they are impostors who speak thus: there is not a man in the universe that can fully comprehend one operation, either of God or his instrument nature; and yet they must believe, and do believe, though they never did nor ever can fully comprehend, or account for, the objects of their faith.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

John 3:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἈπεκρίθηApekrithēAnsweredG611
ΝικόδημοςNikodēmosNicodemusG3530
καὶkaiandG2532
εἶπενeipensaidG2036
αὐτῷ·autōto Him;G846
πῶςpōsHowG4459
δύναταιdunataiare ableG1410
ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778
γενέσθαι;¶genesthaito be?G1096

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 3:9

  • Isaiah 42:16

    And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

  • John 6:52

    The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

  • John 6:60

    Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

  • Luke 1:34

    Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

  • John 3:4

    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?

  • Mark 8:24-25

    And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

  • Proverbs 4:18

    But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
How.
4; 6:52,60; Pr 4:18; Isa 42:16; Mr 8:24,25; Lu 1:34

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 3:8

    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.

  • John 3:9

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

  • John 3:10

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

Read all of John 3

John 3:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Respondió Nicodemo, y díjole: ¿Cómo puede esto hacerse?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Nicodème répondit et lui dit: Comment ces choses peuvent-elles se faire?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nikodemus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Wie kann dies geschehen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respondit Nicodemus, et dixit ei: Quomodo possunt hæc fieri?