The Greek that is transliterated as “Nicodemus” in English is translated in Mandarin Chinese as Nígēdémù (尼哥德慕) in the Protestant tradition. This is an unremarkable transliteration if it were not for the transliteration that was used until a revision of the Union Version in 1988: Nígēdǐmǔ (尼哥底母) which could also be read as “mother of Ni’s older brother,” and which had become one of the most often-cited examples in calls for a revision. (Source: Zetzsche)
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with with the signs for “thinking” and “bearded one” (the latter is used for “Pharisees”). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
“It is unusual for anyone to seek out another at night unless it is desired to be kept secret. Betel nut and condiments are laid out to welcome the guest even at the late hour. Nicodemus’s robe and bared shoulder show he is a religious devotee.”
For more images by Sawai Chinnawong in TIPs see here.
The following 1973 painting “Nicodemus” of the JESUS MAFA project is a response to New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Each of the readings was selected and adapted to dramatic interpretation by the community members. Photographs of their interpretations were made, and these were then transcribed to paintings:
Here we see Jesus patiently teaching about the kingdom of God to a perplexed Nicodemus, whose hands are in a gesture of questioning. Nicodemus has, like so many before and since, gotten caught up in the literal and limited understanding of the scriptures. Jesus attempted to explain the nature of reality in different terms that thereby he (and we) might be transformed. The boundaries we place on ourselves can be escaped if only we are brave enough to venture beyond them. Shall we remain in the cover of night with Nicodemus or step into the light that Jesus offers?
From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Image retrieved March 23, 2026. Original source: librairie-emmanuel.fr.
Illustration by Horst Lemke (1922-1985) for the GermanGute Nachricht für Sie – NT68, one of the first editions of the Good News Bible in German of 1968. Lemke was a well-known illustrator who illustrated books by Erich Kästner , Astrid Lindgren and many others.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
Once again the technique of misunderstanding on the part of one to whom Jesus is speaking serves as a means of transition in the dialogue.
The question posed by Nicodemus How can this be? must refer not to all that Jesus says in verses 5-8 or even to all of verse 8, but to the final statement concerning the way in which one is born of the Spirit. In English, the demonstrative pronoun this does not specify how much of the preceding statement is questioned. In some languages it is important to indicate precisely what is involved, and therefore it may be necessary to indicate that it is “this last statement” which Nicodemus finds so difficult to understand.
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
In this paragraph, in verse 10, Jesus began to talk about his authority. He claimed that he had the right to teach about God because he had come from God. In ancient Greek, quotation marks were not used, so it is not always easy to tell where a quotation ends. Different translations end Jesus’ speech at different points. Here are the possibilities:
(1) Jesus’ own words end at the end of 3:21.
(New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New International Version (1984), Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)
(2) Jesus’ own words end at the end of 3:15.
(Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, God’s Word, New International Version (2011))
(3) Jesus’ own words end at the end of 3:13.
(Good News Translation)
It is not clear where the King James Version and Contemporary English Version end the quotation. It is recommended that you follow most English translations and end Jesus’ speech at the end of verse 21.
3:9
How can this be?: Nicodemus was confused. He did not understand Jesus’ statement about being born of the Spirit. He used his question as a request. Nicodemus wanted Jesus to explain what he had said: How can someone be born again, born of the Spirit? Here are other ways to translate this question:
How can this happen? (New Century Version) -or-
How are these things possible? (New Living Translation (2004))
Nicodemus asked: Because this verse begins a new paragraph, it may be helpful to say explicitly that it was Jesus that Nicodemus was talking to. For example:
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