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Read the Bible

Simplified Cowboy Version

John 3:1

There was a Jewish leader and Pharisee named, Nicodemus, or Nick for short.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Cowardice;   Jesus, the Christ;   Nicodemus;   Pharisees;   Thompson Chain Reference - Discipleship;   Nicodemus;   Secret Discipleship;   The Topic Concordance - Jesus Christ;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Pharisees, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Nicodemus;   Pharisees;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - John, gospel of;   Nicodemus;   Pharisees;   Teacher;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Disciple, Discipleship;   Pharisees;   Salvation;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Episcopacy;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Nicodemus;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bunni;   Jesus Christ;   John, the Gospel According to;   Nicodemus;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Bible, Theology of;   Birth;   Conversion;   Disciples;   Holy Spirit;   Jews in the New Testament;   John, the Gospel of;   Nicodemus;   Spirit;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gospels;   John, Gospel of;   John, Theology of;   Mss;   Nicodemus;   Scribes;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Appreciation (of Christ);   Discourse;   Example;   Individuality;   John the Baptist;   Manliness;   Mental Characteristics;   Nicodemus;   Property (2);   Ruler (2);   Teaching of Jesus;   Unbelief (2);   Woe;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Nicodemus ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Regeneration;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Nicodemus;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Nicode'mus;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Heart;   Nicodemus;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Tabernacle, the;   Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abstinence;   Baptismal Regeneration;   John, Gospel of;   Magistrate;   Nicodemus;   Ruler;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Love;   Nicodemus;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for December 4;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
King James Version (1611)
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of ye Iewes:
King James Version
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
English Standard Version
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
New American Standard Bible
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
New Century Version
There was a man named Nicodemus who was one of the Pharisees and an important Jewish leader.
Amplified Bible
Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
Legacy Standard Bible
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
Berean Standard Bible
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
Contemporary English Version
There was a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a Jewish leader.
Complete Jewish Bible
There was a man among the P'rushim, named Nakdimon, who was a ruler of the Judeans.
Darby Translation
But there was a man from among the Pharisees, his name Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
Easy-to-Read Version
There was a man named Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees. He was an important Jewish leader.
Geneva Bible (1587)
There was nowe a man of the Pharises, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Iewes.
George Lamsa Translation
THERE was there a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews;
Good News Translation
There was a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees.
Lexham English Bible
Now there was a man of the Pharisees whose name was Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Literal Translation
But there was a man from the Pharisees, Nicodemus his name, a ruler of the Jews.
American Standard Version
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Bible in Basic English
Now there was among the Pharisees a man named Nicodemus, who was one of the rulers of the Jews.
Hebrew Names Version
Now there was a man of the Perushim named Nakdimon, a ruler of the Yehudim.
International Standard Version
Now there was a man from the Pharisees, a leader of the Jews, whose name was Nicodemus.
Etheridge Translation
But there was one of the Pharishee whose name was Nikodimos, a ruler of the Jihudoyee:
Murdock Translation
And there was a man of the Pharisees there, whose name was Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
There was a man of the pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Iewes.
English Revised Version
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
World English Bible
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Weymouth's New Testament
Now there was one of the Pharisees whose name was Nicodemus--a ruler among the Jews.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And there was a man of the Farisees, Nychodeme bi name, a prince of the Jewis.
Update Bible Version
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Webster's Bible Translation
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
New English Translation
Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council,
New King James Version
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
New Living Translation
There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.
New Life Bible
There was a man named Nicodemus. He was a proud religious law-keeper and a leader of the Jews.
New Revised Standard
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
There was however, a man from among the Pharisees, Nicodemus, his name, - ruler of the Jews.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Revised Standard Version
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of the Jews.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Ther was a man of the pharises named Nicodemus a ruler amonge ye Iewes.
Young's Literal Translation
And there was a man of the Pharisees, Nicodemus his name, a ruler of the Jews,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
There was a man of the Pharises, named Nicodemus a ruler amoge the Iewes.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Now one of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, was there, a ruler of the Jews:
THE MESSAGE
There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it."

Contextual Overview

1There was a Jewish leader and Pharisee named, Nicodemus, or Nick for short. 2He didn't want anyone to see him talking to Jesus, so one evening after dark, he sought him out and said, "Hey boss, we all know you are from God because of the miracles you can do." 3But Jesus said, "I'm telling you the truth, unless you are born again, you will never see the inside of God's ranch." 4"What in the world are you talking about?" Nick exclaimed. "How can a grown man go back to the womb and be born again?" 5Jesus said, "I promise you, no one can get on God's outfit unless they are born of water and Spirit. 6Humans can only make humans, but the Holy Spirit can give birth to spiritual life. 7So don't think it strange when I say, 'You've gotta be born again.' 8Let me explain it this way, you can hear the wind, but can't tell where it comes from. It goes wherever it wants, but you can't explain it. Same thing goes for the Holy Spirit." 9"How can this happen though?" Nick asked. 10Jesus said, "Aren't you one of Israel's teachers? How is it that you cannot understand something as simple as this?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

John 3:10, John 7:47-49

Reciprocal: Luke 14:1 - chief John 1:24 - were of John 7:50 - he that John 19:39 - Nicodemus Ephesians 2:3 - by

Cross-References

Matthew 4:3
That old devil rode up and said, "If you're God's Boy, you can easily turn these rocks into bread. What're you waitin' on?"
Matthew 4:6
"If you're God's Boy," the devil said, "bail off of here. 'Cause it's written that, 'God's angels are gonna look out for you. They won't let a scratch of harm come to you.'"
Matthew 4:9
"I'll make a horse trade with you. I'll swap you everything you see below us if you'll take off your hat and call me boss."
Matthew 10:16
I'm sendin' y'all out like steaks to hungry coyotes. Y'all will need to be savvy as horse traders, but innocent as the day you were born.
2 Corinthians 11:14
Of course, this is of no surprise to us. Even the devil likes to dress up like an angel.
1 Peter 3:7
Y'all ain't off the hook either, husbands. You should honor your wives. Understand that she is a precious gift as you live together. She may not be as physically strong as you, but she is equal in your new life that God has given you. Treat her right so your prayers will be heard.
Revelation 12:9
The huge dragon was thrown out. You know the dragon as that ancient snake, the devil, or Satan, the deceiver of the world. He was thrown down to earth and all his angels fell with him.
Revelation 20:2
He grabbed the dragon, that old snake—the devil or Satan—and hog tied him for a thousand years.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

There was a man of the Pharisees,.... The Syriac version adds, "there"; that is, at Jerusalem; and who was among those that believed in the name of Christ, upon seeing the miracles he did at the feast of the passover, in that place. This man was not a common and ordinary man, but a man of note and eminence, of dignity and figure; and who was of the sect of the Pharisees, which was the strictest sect for religion and holiness, among the Jews; and which, as corrupt as it was, was also the soundest; as having not only a regard to a Messiah, and to all the writings of the Old Testament, but also believed the doctrines of angels and spirits, and the resurrection of the dead, which the Sadducees denied; but yet they were implacable enemies of Christ; and therefore it is the more to be wondered at, that such an one should come to him, and desire a conversation with him:

named Nicodemus; frequent mention is made of נקדימון בן גוריון, "Nicodemon ben Gorion", the brother of Josephus ben Gorion p, the writer of the Wars and Antiquities of the Jews; and there are some things which make it probable, that he was the same with this Nicodemus; for the Nicodemon the Jews speak so much of, lived in this age; as appears, not only from his being the brother of Josephus, but also from his being contemporary with R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, who lived in this time, and until the destruction of the temple; since these two are said q to be together at a feast, made for the circumcision of a child. Moreover, he is represented as very rich, and is said to be one of the three rich men in Jerusalem r, and who was able to have maintained מדינה, a city ten years s; and they speak of his daughter, as exceeding rich: they say, that she had for her dowry a thousand thousand golden denarii, or pence; and that her bed was strewed with (i.e. the furniture of it cost) twelve thousand golden denarii; and that a Tyrian golden denarius was spent upon her every week, for a certain kind of soup t; and the wise men decreed her four hundred golden denarii, for a box of spices every day u; and it is elsewhere w said, five hundred: and this our Nicodemus was very rich, as appears from his liberality at the funeral of our Lord, John 19:39. Moreover, the Nicodemon of the Jews, is said to be a counsellor x in Jerusalem; and so was this, as seems evident from John 7:32 and it may be further observed y, that the right name of Nicodemon, was Boni z; now Boni elsewhere a, is said to be one of the disciples of Jesus, as Nicodemus was secretly, and perhaps at, and after his death openly, as his associate Joseph of Arimathea was; to which may be added, the extreme poverty that his daughter is by them said to be reduced unto; for they report, that R. Jochanan ben Zaccai saw her gathering barley corns from under the horses' hoofs in Aco b; or as it is elsewhere said, out of the dung of the beasts of the Arabians; when she asked alms of him, and he inquired of her, what was become of her father's substance. Now to this low estate, the family of our Nicodemus might be reduced, through the persecution of the Christians by the Jews. The name is Greek, as at this time many Greek names were in use among the Jews, and signifies the same as Nicolas; but the Jews give an etymology of it, agreeably to the Hebrew language; and say, that he was so called, because the sun,

נקדה, "shone out for his sake": the occasion and reason of it, they tell us, were this c; Nicodemon, upon want of water at one of the feasts, agreed with a certain man for twelve wells of water, to be returned on such a day, or pay twelve talents of silver; the day being come, the man demanded the water, or the money; Nicodemon went and prayed, and a plentiful rain fell, and filled the wells with water; but meeting the man, he insisted on it that the day was past, the sun being set, and therefore required the money; Nicodemon went and prayed again, and the sun shone out; and they add, that there are three persons for whom the sun נקדמה, "was prevented", detained, or hindered in its course, (a word nearer his name than the former,) Moses, and Joshua, and Nicodemon ben Gorion; for the two former they produce Scripture, and for the latter tradition: hence it is elsewhere said d, that as the sun stood still for Joshua, so it stood still for Moses, and for Nicodemon ben Gorion: but to proceed with the account of our Nicodemus, he was

a ruler of the Jews; not a civil magistrate; for the civil government was now in the hands of the Romans; but an ecclesiastical ruler; he was a member of the sanhedrim, which consisted of the doctors, or wise men, and priests, Levites, and elders of the people; and so was a dignified person, and as afterwards called, a master in Israel.

p Ganz Tzemach David, par. 1. fol. 25. 1. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 19. 1. q Pirke Eliezer, c. 2. & Juchasin, fol. 23. 2. r T. Bab. Gittin, fol. 56. 1. s Midrash Kohelet, fol. 75. 4. t Abot R. Nathan, c. 6. fol. 3. 2. u T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 66. 2. w Echa Rabbati, fol. 49. 2. x Echa Rabbati, fol. 46. 3. Midrash Kohelet, fol. 75. 1. y T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 20. 1. z T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 43. 1. a Echa Rabbati, fol. 49. 3. b T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 66. 2. c T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 20. 1. d T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 25. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A man of the Pharisees - A Pharisee. See the notes at Matthew 3:7.

Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews - One of the “Sanhedrin,” or great council of the nation. He is twice mentioned after this as being friendly to our Saviour; in the first instance as advocating his cause, and defending him against the unjust suspicion of the Jews John 7:50, and in the second instance as one who came to aid in embalming his body, John 19:39. It will be recollected that the design of John in writing this gospel was to show that Jesus was the Messiah. To do this he here adduces the testimony of one of the rulers of the Jews, who early became convinced of it, and who retained the belief of it until the death of Jesus.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER III.

The conversation between Nicodemus and our Lord, about the new

birth and faith in his testimony, 1-15.

The love of God, the source of human salvation, 16.

Who are condemned, and who are approved, 17-21.

Jesus and his disciples come to Judea, and baptize, 22.

John baptizes in AEnon, 23, 24.

The disciples of John and the Pharisees dispute about purifying,

25

The discourse between John and his disciples about Christ, in

which the excellence, perfection, and privileges, of the

Christian dispensation are pointed out, 26-36.

NOTES ON CHAP. III.

Verse John 3:1. Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. — One of the members of the grand Sanhedrin; for such were ordinarily styled rulers among the Jews. A person of the name of Nicodemus, the son of Gorion, is mentioned in the Jewish writings, who lived in the time of Vespasian, and was reputed to be so rich that he could support all the inhabitants of Jerusalem for ten years. But this is said in their usual extravagant mode of talking.


 
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