3:6a

Flesh is born of flesh: This expression speaks of natural human life and how one generation passes it to the next. Parents and children share the same sort of life; human beings always give birth to other human beings. In English the normal way to speak about natural human life is to use the phrase “flesh and blood.” So this clause can be translated in English like this:

Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood. (God’s Word)

is born: This is a passive verb phrase. There are at least two ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh. (English Standard Version)

• Use an active verb, with the parents as subject the first time the word “flesh” is used. For example:

Flesh gives birth to flesh. (New International Version)
-or-
Human life comes from human parents. (New Century Version)

flesh: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as flesh here refers to human nature and natural human life. It does not imply any sin. In this context the word includes the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of human life. It does not include the spiritual aspect of life. See Key Biblical Terms flesh 2A, and see how you translated flesh in John 1:14a.

3:6b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here introduces a second truth in the sentence. This second truth both contrasts with and completes the truth in the previous expression. Use the conjunction that is natural in your language.

spirit is born of the Spirit: This clause compares and contrasts with “Flesh is born of flesh” in 3:6a. So the two clauses should follow a similar pattern to emphasize the differences. For example:

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (New International Version)
-or-
Human beings come from human parents, and spiritual beings come from the Holy Spirit.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit of God. The word spirit refers to the new nature of a human being which is not flesh. He is a new spiritual person. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

it is the Spirit who gives birth to spirit
-or-
but the Holy Spirit gives birth to a spiritual being
-or-
but spiritual beings come from the Spirit

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