God & Savior

John 3:1

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
John 3:1
Read chapter

Study notes

John introduces Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a leader among the Jewish people, who is about to come to Jesus.

Explanation

Chapter 2 ended by saying that many in Jerusalem believed because of Jesus' signs, but that Jesus knew what was in people (2:23-25). Nicodemus is introduced as one of those people. He is a Pharisee and "a leader of the Jews", so he speaks as someone with standing and learning.

John mentions him twice more: defending Jesus' right to a fair hearing (7:50-51) and helping to bury Jesus (19:39).

Original language
  • Φαρισαίων (Pharisaiōn): Pharisee
    Greek · Noun, genitive, plural, masculine · Strong's G5330 · text: NA28 (as recorded in TAGNT)

    Pharisees: members of a Jewish group devoted to keeping the Law.

    Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAGNT: Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, John 3:1, word 6

  • ἄρχων (archōn): ruler
    Greek · Noun, nominative, singular, masculine · Strong's G0758 · text: NA28 (as recorded in TAGNT)

    Ruler or leader; it marks Nicodemus as a man of authority among his people.

    Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAGNT: Translators Amalgamated Greek New Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, John 3:1, word 10

Historical background

The Pharisees were a Jewish group known for careful study and keeping of the Law. In John's Gospel they are often among Jesus' questioners (for example 1:24; 9:13-16).

Places
  • Jerusalem
    From the surrounding passage · Location: unknown

    Setting inferred from John 2:23-3:2; exact location unknown.

Cross-references
  • John 2:23-25 · Surrounding passage

    Many believed because of the signs, but Jesus knew what was in people.

  • John 7:50-51 · Related verse

    Nicodemus later asks that Jesus be given a fair hearing.

  • John 19:39 · Related verse

    Nicodemus helps bury Jesus.

Connected events
  • Nicodemus visits Jesus at night
    This verse is part of it · Jerusalem

    This verse begins the account.

    John 3:1-21

Sources

Original language and places

Reference data from open datasets, shown as published by their sources. Word-by-word English is a literal guide, not a translation.

Original language (Greek)

Ἦν δὲ ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων, Νικόδημος ὄνομα αὐτῷ, ἄρχων τῶν Ἰουδαίων.

  1. ἮνĒn“There was”
    Verb, imperfect, active, indicative, 3rd person singular · from εἰμί · “to be” · Strong's G1510
  2. δὲde“now”
    Conjunction · from δέ · “but/and” · Strong's G1161
  3. ἄνθρωποςanthrōpos“a man”
    Noun, nominative, singular, masculine · “a human” · Strong's G0444
  4. ἐκek“of”
    Preposition · “out from” · Strong's G1537
  5. τῶνtōn“the”
    Article, genitive, plural, masculine · from ὁ · “the/this/who” · Strong's G3588
  6. Φαρισαίων,Pharisaiōn“Pharisees,”
    Noun, genitive, plural, masculine · from Φαρισαῖος · “Pharisee” · Strong's G5330
  7. ΝικόδημοςNikodēmos“Nicodemus”
    Noun, nominative, singular, masculine · “Nicodemus” · Strong's G3530
  8. ὄνομαonoma“name”
    Noun, nominative, singular, neuter · “name” · Strong's G3686
  9. αὐτῷ,autō“to him,”
    Personal pronoun, dative, singular, masculine · from αὐτός · “he/she/it/self” · Strong's G0846
  10. ἄρχωνarchōn“a ruler”
    Noun, nominative, singular, masculine · “ruler” · Strong's G0758
  11. τῶνtōn“of the”
    Article, genitive, plural, masculine · from ὁ · “the/this/who” · Strong's G3588
  12. Ἰουδαίων.Ioudaiōn“Jews.”
    Noun, genitive, plural, masculine · from Ἰουδαῖος · “Jewish” · Strong's G2453
  • Prepared by the God & Savior team. Not yet reviewed by an editor.
  • Greek words: STEP Bible (STEPBible.org), based on work at Tyndale House, Cambridge. CC BY 4.0. Source (version ed476a8)