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John 3 · a question people ask

"unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom" (3:5). What is the water?

In the text

Here is what Jesus says, in order. "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom" (3:3). Nicodemus asks how a man can be born when he is old (3:4). Jesus answers, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom" (3:5). The words that follow speak of the Spirit: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (3:6), and "So is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (3:8). Jesus doesn't say in this chapter what the water is. Christians read 3:5 in more than one way. These notes don't say what the water is, and don't use 3:5 to settle any question about baptism.

From Favor's study of John 3

John 3: Born anew

John's Gospel remembers Nicodemus as the man who came by night: "Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night" (19:39). And the verb of "For God so loved the world" (3:16) comes again three verses later: "men loved the darkness rather than the light" (3:19).

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Last reviewed October 1, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions