³ Jesus answered, “·I tell you the truth [^LTruly, truly I say to you], unless you are born ·again [or from above; ^Cthis may be a play on words, meaning both “again” and “from above”], you cannot ·be in [experience; ^Lsee] God’s kingdom.”

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.