John 3:8 KJV
The wind bloweth where it listeth,
and thou hearest the sound thereof,
but canst not tell whence it cometh,
and whither it goeth:
so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
The wind bloweth where it listeth,
The wind bloweth where it listeth, so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
The same word (pneuma) signifies both the wind and the Spirit.
The Spirit came upon the apostles in a rushing mighty wind (Acts 2:2), his strong influences on the hearts of sinners are compared to the breathing of the wind (Ezekiel 37:9 ).
The wind
The wind (to pneuma). In Greek pneuma means either wind or spirit as spiritus does in Latin (so also in Hebrew and Syriac). Wycliff follows the Latin and keeps spirit here and Marcus Dods argues for it.
The word pneuma occurs 370 times in the N.T. and never means wind elsewhere except in a quotation from the O.T. ( Hebrews 1:7, from Psalms 104:4 ), though common in the LXX.
On the other hand pnew (bloweth, pnei) occurs five times elsewhere in the N.T. and always of the wind (like John 6:18 ). So pwnh can be either sound (as of wind) or voice (as of the Spirit). In simple truth either sense of pneuma can be taken here as one wills.
Tholuck thinks that the night-wind swept through the narrow street as Jesus spoke.
In either case the etymology of pneuma is “wind” from pnew, to blow. The Spirit is the use of pneuma as metaphor.
Certainly the conclusion “of the Spirit” is a direct reference to the Holy Spirit who works his own way beyond our comprehension even as men even yet do not know the law of the wind.
Where it listeth
With free and wandering blasts as it wishes
This comparison is here used to show, that the Spirit, in regeneration, works arbitrarily, and as a free agent. The wind bloweth where it listeth for us, and does not attend our order, nor is subject to our command. God directs it; it fulfils His word (Psalms 148:8)
The Spirit dispenses his influences where, and when, on whom, and in what measure and degree, he pleases, dividing to every man severally as he will (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Thou hearest the sound thereof
This comparison is here used to show, that He works powerfully, and with evident effects: Thou hearest the sound thereof; though its causes are hidden, its effects are manifest. When the soul is brought to mourn for sin, to groan under the burden of corruption, to breathe after Christ, to cry Abba-Father, then we hear the sound of the Spirit, we find he is at work (Acts 9:11).
Canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:
And this comparison is also here used to show, that He works mysteriously, and in secret hidden ways: You cannot tell from where it comes, nor where it goes. How it gathers and how it spends its strength is a riddle to us; so the manner and methods of the Spirit’s working are a mystery. Which way went the Spirit? ( 1 Kings 22:24 . See Ecclesiastes 11:5 , and compare it with Psalms 139:14).
Last message in this series
× 0 ×
Internet: http://harryschoemaker.nl
Website: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwide.ekklesia/
About Author
