John 3:4

4 Nicodemus said to him [Nicodemus saith to him], How may a man be born, when he is old? whether he may enter again into his mother's womb, and be born again?

John 3:4 Meaning and Commentary

John 3:4

Nicodemus saith unto him
Understanding him of a natural birth, to be repeated:

how can a man be born when he is old?
as it seems by this, he himself now was:

can he enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born?
the Ethiopic version adds, "again"; and the Arabic version, "and then be born"; this he urges, as absurd, impracticable, and impossible; and which shows him to have been as yet a natural man, who could not receive nor discern spiritual things.

John 3:4 In-Context

2 And he came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know, that thou art come from God a master [Rabbi, we know, for of God thou hast come a master]; for no man may do these signs, that thou doest, but God be with him.

3 Jesus answered, and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to thee, but a man be born again, he may not see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus said to him [Nicodemus saith to him], How may a man be born, when he is old? whether he may enter again into his mother's womb, and be born again?

5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to thee, but a man be born again of water, and of the Holy Ghost, he may not enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That that is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that that is born of the Spirit, is spirit.