⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “But if a person is already old, how can he be born ·again [or from above; 3:3]? ·He cannot enter his mother’s womb again. So how can a person be born a second time [^LCan he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born]?”

⁵ But Jesus answered, “·I tell you the truth [^LTruly, truly I say to you], unless you are born from water and the Spirit [^Cequivalent to being born again (3:3); water could symbolize physical birth, but more likely symbolizes spiritual cleansing which brings renewal; Ezek. 36:25–27], you cannot enter God’s kingdom. ⁶ ·Human life comes from human parents [^LThat which is born of the flesh is flesh; ^Cflesh here means human nature], but ·spiritual life comes from the Spirit [^Lthat which is born of the Spirit is spirit].