Born Again
Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:7 · Berean Standard Bible
Jesus said, 'Don't be so surprised when I tell you that you must be born again.'
This isn't optional or reserved for 'really bad' people. Everyone — religious or not — needs this new beginning from God.
Jesus reassures Nicodemus that this radical idea shouldn't shock him.
Nicodemus was stunned, and Jesus understood why. But He wanted him to know: this isn't strange — it's necessary. Everyone needs to be reborn from above.
Jesus admonishes Nicodemus not to be amazed at the declaration 'You must be born again/from above' (Greek: dei hymas gennēthēnai anōthen — the plural 'you' addresses all Israel).
The shift to plural 'you' (hymas) extends the requirement beyond Nicodemus to all people. The dei ('must, it is necessary') indicates divine necessity, not mere recommendation.
Jesus tells Nicodemus not to marvel at the necessity of new birth.
Jesus normalizes what seems radical: the new birth is not an extraordinary exception but a universal requirement. Even the most devout must be born anew.
5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’
8The 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.”
9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
Read all of John 3 — A religious leader comes at night with questions he can't ask in daylight. The conversation contains the most quoted verse in history.
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