Which of the meanings is correct depends on subtleties of the context and sometimes the context is unclear.
“509 ἄνωθεν anōthen an'-o-then; from 507; from above; by analogy from the first; by implication anew: - from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top.”
Christ is saying that a person must have a second birth but a birth from above by the Spirit. However, Nicodemus mistakenly thinks Jesus is saying that he must be born a second time from the womb. This play on the word ανωθεν (anothen) is obvious in the Greek and illustrates beautifully Jesus’ mastery of the Greek language. One can see this play on words by comparing the following two translations:
“Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born again (ανωθεν).”
“Nicodemus asked, “How can a grown man ever be born a second time?” …show more content…
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your
“509 ἄνωθεν anōthen an'-o-then; from 507; from above; by analogy from the first; by implication anew: - from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top.”
Christ is saying that a person must have a second birth but a birth from above by the Spirit. However, Nicodemus mistakenly thinks Jesus is saying that he must be born a second time from the womb. This play on the word ανωθεν (anothen) is obvious in the Greek and illustrates beautifully Jesus’ mastery of the Greek language. One can see this play on words by comparing the following two translations:
“Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born again (ανωθεν).”
“Nicodemus asked, “How can a grown man ever be born a second time?” …show more content…
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your