Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
- KJV There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
- NKJV There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
- NASB Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
- NLT There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John introduces Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the ruling council, who comes to question Jesus. He represents Israel's religious leadership genuinely seeking to understand Jesus.
Overview
As a Pharisee and 'ruler of the Jews,' Nicodemus was a respected teacher and likely a member of the Sanhedrin. His appearance sets up one of John's most important dialogues, contrasting religious credentials with the new birth that even a teacher of Israel needs. Nicodemus reappears later in John (7:50; 19:39), suggesting a faith that grows over time.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- John 19:39Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
- John 7:47–50“Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees.
- John 3:10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things?
- Luke 23:13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 3:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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