John 3:2

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.

King James Version · Read in your translation · Open the Explore console

Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
same	οὗτος houtos	G3778	the he (she or it) · demonstrative pronoun — nominative singular masculine
came	ἦλθεν ēlthen	G2064	to come or go (in a great variety of applications · verb — second aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular
to	πρὸς pros	G4314	a preposition of direction · preposition
Jesus	Ἰησοῦς Iēsoûs	G2424	Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua)
night	νυκτὸς nuktos	G3571	"night" (literally or figuratively) · noun — genitive singular feminine
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
said	εἶπεν eipen	G2036	to speak or say (by word or writing) · verb — second aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular
him	αὐτὸν auton	G846	the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — accusative singular masculine
Rabbi	ῥαββί, rhabbi	G4461	my master · noun — vocative singular masculine, a title
know	εἴδω eídō	G1492	used only in certain past tenses
that	ὅτι hoti	G3754	demonstrative · conjunction
art	ἐλήλυθας elēluthas	G2064	to come or go (in a great variety of applications · verb — second perfect active indicative, 2nd person singular
teacher	διδάσκαλος· didaskalos	G1320	an instructor (genitive case or specially) · noun — nominative singular masculine
come	ἔρχομαι érchomai	G2064	to come or go (in a great variety of applications
from	ἀπὸ apo	G575	"off · preposition
God	θεοῦ theou	G2316	figuratively · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
for	γὰρ gar	G1063	properly · conjunction
man	οὐδεὶς oudeis	G3762	not even one (man · adjective — nominative singular masculine
can	δύναται dunatai	G1410	to be able or possible · verb — present middle or passive deponent indicative, 3rd person singular
do	ποιεῖν poiein	G4160	to make or do (in a very wide application · verb — present active infinitive
these	ταῦτα taûta	G5023	these things
miracles	σημεῖα sēmeia	G4592	an indication · noun — accusative plural neuter
that	ἃ ha	G3739	the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun · relative pronoun — accusative plural neuter
thou	σὺ su	G4771	thou · personal pronoun — 2nd person nominative singular
doest	ποιεῖς, poieis	G4160	to make or do (in a very wide application · verb — present active indicative, 2nd person singular
except	μὴ mē	G3361	(adverb) not · particle — negative
God	θεὸς theos	G2316	figuratively · noun — nominative singular masculine, a title
be	ὦ ō	G5600	(may
with	μετ᾽ met᾽	G3326	properly · preposition
him	αὐτῷ· autō	G846	the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — dative singular masculine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness…
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the…
Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by h…
John 9:16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a s…
John 9:30-33 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
Acts 4:16-17 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusa…
Matthew 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in tr…
John 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on John 3:1-21

We found, in the close of the foregoing chapter, that few were brought to Christ at Jerusalem; yet here was one, a considerable one. It is worth while to go a great way for the salvation though but of one soul. Observe, I. Who this Nicodemus was. Not many mighty and noble are called; yet some are, and here was one. Not many of the rulers, or of the Pharisees; yet. 1. This was a man of the Pharisees, bred to learning, a scholar. Let it not be said that all Christ's followers are unlearned and ignorant men. The principles of the Pharisees, and the peculiarities of their sect, were directly contrary to the spirit of Christianity; yet there were some in whom even those high thoughts were cast do…

Read the whole note in the console

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 3:2

came to Jesus by night--One of those superficial "believers" mentioned in Joh 2:23-24, yet inwardly craving further satisfaction, Nicodemus comes to Jesus in quest of it, but comes "by night" (see Joh 19:38-39; Joh 12:42); he avows his conviction that He was come from God--an expression never applied to a merely human messenger, and probably meaning more here--but only as "a teacher," and in His miracles he sees a proof merely that "God is with Him." Thus, while unable to repress his convictions, he is afraid of committing himself too far.

Adam Clarke on John 3:2

Came to Jesus by night - He had matters of the utmost importance, on which he wished to consult Christ; and he chose the night season, perhaps less through the fear of man than through a desire to have Jesus alone, as he found him all the day encompassed with the multitude; so that it was impossible for him to get an opportunity to speak fully on those weighty affairs concerning which he intended to consult him. However, we may take it for granted that he had no design at present to become his disciple; as baptism and circumcision, which were the initiating ordinances among the Jews, were never administered in the night time. If any person received baptism by night, he was not acknowledged f…

Read the whole note in the console

The Church Fathers

This ruler of the Jews came to Jesus by night, hoping, that is, by so secret an interview, to learn more of the mysteries of the faith; the late public miracles having given him a rudimentary knowledge of them.
— Bede, EXPOSITION ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 3

In these words he supposes that he can attain complete piety, and imagines that it will be sufficient for his salvation, to marvel merely at those things which call for wonder: nought else but this does he seek. Calling him a Teacher from God, and a co-worker with Him, he does not yet know that He is by Nature God, nor understand the plan of the dispensation with Flesh, but still approaches as to a mere man, and hath but slight conception of Him.
— Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 2

(Hom. in Oct. Pent.) Or, well may it be said that he came in the night, enveloped, as he was, in the darkness of ignorance, and not yet come to the light, i. e. the belief that our Lord was very God. Night in the language of Holy Writ is put for ignorance. And said unto him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God. The Hebrew Rabbi, has the meaning of Magister in Latin. He calls him, we see, a Master, but not God: he does not hint at that; he believes Him to be sent from God, but does not see that He is God.
— Haymo of Halberstadt ((as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)), Catena Aurea by Aquinas

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Nicodemus — The people is victor, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. He is first noticed as visiting Jesus by night (John 3:1-21) for the purpose of learning more of his doctrines, which our Lord then…
Rabbi — My master, a title of dignity given by the Jews to their doctors of the law and their distinguished teachers. It is sometimes applied to Christ (Matt. 23:7, 8; Mark 9:5 (R.V.); John 1:38, 49; 3:2;…
Christ, The Prophet · Alone knows and reveals God — Alone knows and reveals God
Miracles · Power of God necessary to — Power of God necessary to
Nicodemus · A Jewish rabbi -Becomes a disciple of Jesus — A Jewish rabbi -Becomes a disciple of Jesus
Opinion, Public · .Nico — .Nico
Rabbi · The title of a Jewish teacher — The title of a Jewish teacher
Sign · A miracle to confirm faith — A miracle to confirm faith

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

John 3:2

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on John 3:1-21

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 3:2

Adam Clarke on John 3:2

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John 3:2

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on John 3:1-21

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 3:2

Adam Clarke on John 3:2

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on John 3:2

John Calvin on John 3:1-6

Tyndale Open Study Notes on John 3:2