John 3 8

John 3:8 kjv

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3:8 nkjv

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

John 3:8 niv

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

John 3:8 esv

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

John 3:8 nlt

The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit."

John 3 verses

John 3 8 Meaning

John 3:8 uses the analogy of the wind to illustrate the mysterious, sovereign, and incomprehensible nature of spiritual new birth by the Holy Spirit. Just as one hears the wind's sound and perceives its effects but cannot control its movement or fully understand its origin or destination, so too is the regeneration of a human spirit by God's Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit in transforming a heart from spiritual death to life is unseen in its process and beyond human comprehension or manipulation, yet its vital effects become undeniably evident in the life of the one who is born of the Spirit. This verse emphasizes divine initiative and sovereignty in salvation.

John 3 8 Context

John chapter 3 details Jesus' nocturnal encounter with Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, who came seeking understanding from Jesus, perhaps impressed by His miracles. Jesus immediately redirects Nicodemus from outward signs to the absolute necessity of inward spiritual transformation. In verses 3-7, Jesus introduces the concept of being "born again" or "born from above" (the Greek word anōthen carrying both meanings), clarifying in verse 5 that this new birth is "of water and the Spirit." Nicodemus, stuck in a literal and earthly understanding ("How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"), highlights the very human difficulty in grasping spiritual realities. Verse 8 serves as Jesus' crucial illustration to help Nicodemus bridge this gap between the visible and the invisible, the physical and the spiritual, explaining that while the spiritual birth's mechanics are mysterious, its reality is no less potent than the empirically observed, yet unmastered, force of the wind.

John 3 8 Word analysis

• The wind (to pneuma - τὸ πνεῦμα): This is the central term for the analogy, intentionally chosen by Jesus for its double meaning in Greek: "wind" and "spirit" (often capitalized as "Spirit" when referring to the Holy Spirit). This linguistic fluidity allows Jesus to directly link the mysterious, unseen, yet powerfully evident phenomenon of wind to the work of the Holy Spirit.
• blows (pnei - πνεῖ): The verb form related to pneuma, literally "breathes" or "blows." It conveys the idea of an active, moving, and uncontrollable force.
• where it wishes (hopou thelei - ὅπου θέλει): This phrase strongly emphasizes the sovereignty and autonomy of the wind, and by extension, the absolute sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. Its movement is self-directed and independent of any external control, highlighting God's unconstrained freedom in salvation.
• and you hear its sound (kai tēn phōnēn autou akoueis - καὶ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀκούεις): Though invisible, the wind's presence is made known through audible effects (a rustle, a gust). This signifies that while the Spirit's regenerative process is unseen, its presence and operation are discerned through observable results and spiritual impact in a transformed life.
• but you do not know (all' ouk oidas - ἀλλ' οὐκ οἶδας): Emphasizes human intellectual and empirical limitations. Nicodemus, as a master teacher, expected to understand; Jesus points to an area beyond human rational comprehension.
• where it comes from (pothen erchetai - πόθεν ἔρχεται): Its origin is unknown to human perception, pointing to the mysterious source and divine initiation of the Spirit's work.
• or where it goes (kai pou hypagei - καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγει): Its destination is also beyond human prediction, indicating the unsearchable ways of God and the ultimate outcome known only to Him.
• So it is (houtōs - οὕτως): A direct analogy, linking the natural phenomenon to the spiritual truth. It confirms the applicability of the wind's characteristics to the Spirit's work.
• with everyone who is born (pas ho gegennēmenos - πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος): This refers to every person who experiences spiritual new birth. The perfect passive participle indicates a completed action with lasting effects, implying that God is the agent of this birth.
• of the Spirit (ek tou pneumatos - ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος): The origin or source of this birth is the Spirit. This confirms that new birth is a spiritual process, not physical, and is entirely God's doing.

• "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound": This clause establishes the analogy. It speaks to the wind's independent movement, free from human control or predictability. Although unseen, its presence is evident through its audible effects, making its reality undeniable.
• "but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes": This part of the analogy highlights the deep mystery surrounding the wind's origin and destiny. It mirrors the human inability to fully grasp or manipulate the process by which God regenerates a soul; its spiritual 'mechanism' remains largely hidden.
• "So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit": This concluding comparison draws a direct parallel. It means that the spiritual regeneration of a person, though invisible and initiated by the sovereign Spirit in ways human intellect cannot fully fathom, results in discernible and powerful changes in that person's life, testifying to a work undeniably accomplished by God.

John 3 8 Bonus section

• The ambiguity of pneuma (πνεῦμα) is a classic example of Jesus using common phenomena to reveal profound spiritual truths, highlighting His profound pedagogical skill. It's not merely a clever analogy but an intentional linguistic device revealing spiritual reality through natural parallels.
• The passive voice of "born" (gegennēmenos) consistently points to the divine agent in regeneration. Humanity is not the initiator but the recipient of this new birth, a strong theological statement reinforcing grace over human effort.
• This verse acts as a direct challenge to Nicodemus's rationalistic worldview, accustomed to law and clear instruction. Jesus introduces a realm where understanding is replaced by submission to a supernatural work that cannot be empirically verified but only spiritually experienced and witnessed by its effects.
• The analogy suggests a radical, independent agency. The Spirit is not like a wind that can be summoned or confined but operates freely according to the Father's will (Jn 6:44).
• The verse beautifully balances the invisible nature of God's saving work with its observable reality. We may not understand how it happens, but we can see that it happens, both in our own lives and in the lives of others, through the "fruit of the Spirit."

John 3 8 Commentary

John 3:8 is a cornerstone verse explaining the nature of spiritual regeneration. It underscores that being "born of the Spirit" is not a humanly orchestrated event, but a sovereign act of God, a divine impartation of life from above. Jesus' masterful use of the pneuma wordplay for both wind and Spirit emphasizes this point: just as we can experience the effects of the wind—feel it, hear it, see its impact on objects—yet cannot command its movement, predict its exact course, or fully comprehend its origins or ultimate destination, so it is with the Holy Spirit's work in conversion. The moment and mechanics of the Spirit drawing, quickening, and transforming a dead heart are veiled in divine mystery. Yet, the evidence of His presence and work—repentance, faith, a changed life, new desires, love for God and His people—are undeniably real and observable. This verse powerfully counters any notion that salvation is earned through human effort or merely an intellectual ascent to doctrines. It champions divine sovereignty, ensuring that spiritual rebirth remains God's initiative, mysterious in its workings yet glorious in its manifest effects.

Short Examples for Practical Usage:

• The Unpredictable Conversion: Explains why some individuals come to faith suddenly and powerfully, defying logical human prediction or strategy.
• The Depth of Transformation: Accounts for profound character changes in individuals that cannot be attributed to mere willpower or therapy alone.
• The Humility of Evangelism: Reminds believers that while they share the Gospel, the act of conversion itself is solely God's work, preventing pride in results.