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What does Jesus mean by being born again?
Jesus’ word to Nicodemus is about a birth from above by the Spirit — not a later revival slogan.
Scripture context and classic commentary notes below. For a live, retrieval-grounded conversation, Ask Bible.
From above, not a second try
The Greek anōthen can mean “again” or “from above.” John loves the double sense. Nicodemus hears a second physical birth; Jesus speaks of birth of water and Spirit (John 3:5–8), wind that blows where it wishes. Ezekiel 36:25–27 already joined water, Spirit, and a new heart. Entrance to the kingdom is God’s work, not Nicodemus’s résumé as a teacher of Israel.
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible · John Gill
Gill on John 3:3–5 reads water and Spirit as the Spirit’s regenerating work, against reducing the saying to baptism alone or to mere moral reform.
How this becomes life
The same chapter moves from new birth to the lifted-up Son and believing (3:14–18). Regeneration and faith are not rival systems in John; the one who is born of God believes (cf. 1:12–13). Ask Bible can set John 3 beside Ezekiel 36 and Titus 3:5.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary · Matthew Henry
Henry insists that the new birth is necessary for all, Pharisee included, and that the Spirit’s work is known by its fruit even when its manner is hidden like the wind.