The beginning or origin of life, in which a living creature comes into the world. Scripture draws a distinction between physical and spiritual birth, insisting that a person must be not only physically but also spiritually born in order to have life to the full.
Physical birth
God creates all life
Job 10:8–12; Psalm 71:6, Psalm 139:13
Human beings are sinful from the moment of birth
Psalm 51:5 See also Job 15:14, Job 25:4; Psalm 58:3; John 3:6, John 9:34; Romans 5:12, Romans 5:17–19
Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
The necessity of spiritual birth
Being born again
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
Being born of the Spirit
John 3:5–8 See also Psalm 87:4–6; Matthew 18:3; John 1:12–13; 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 2:2
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
The agents of the new birth: word and Spirit
1 Peter 1:23 See also Luke 10:21; John 3:5, John 3:7–8; Titus 3:5; James 1:18
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
The fruit of the new birth: holiness and love
1 John 3:9, 1 John 4:7 See also Matthew 18:4; 1 John 2:29, 1 John 5:3–4, 1 John 5:18
Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Spiritual birth and the nation of Israel
Deuteronomy 32:18 See also Numbers 11:12 Moses implies that God himself gave birth to the people.
You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
Birth seen as entry into a condition or status
Ethnic identity from birth
Exodus 12:48; Ezekiel 16:3; Acts 17:26, Acts 22:27–28; Galatians 2:15, Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 2:11; Philippians 3:4–5
Physical or mental disability from birth
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.