The first of these two words, γεννάω (gennao), means to give birth. Here it is used in the passive, to “be born.” The use of this term communicates the profundity of the new beginning and transformation that occurs at the point of salvation and faith in Christ. The second word, used thirteen times in the NT, is the adverb ἄνωθεν (anothen), having the root meaning “from above.” There are several uses that derive from this, “from the beginning,” “for a long time” and “again, anew.” “From above” is essentially an adverb of place, but assuming these other uses, it becomes an adverb of time. This is similar to the English idiom for restarting a song or the like from the beginning, “take it from the top.” Many versions (KJV, NASB, NIV) translate the adverb as “again.” Some (NRSV, Young's) choose “from above.” Which meaning fits best in the context of 3:3? Both meanings seem to work equally well and to be equally true. Nicodemus’ response in the next verse indicates that he took it as “again,” but is that how Jesus meant it? Jesus is clearly talking about a second birth, after one’s first physical birth, but He also explains that He is speaking about heavenly things (v. 12). Normally, a word has one meaning in its context, but deliberately using a word with more than one meaning is an accepted literary device called double entendre (double intent). Jesus seems to be using this word in this way here, both as “again” and “from above.” In this case, Jesus would be using a play on this word. One must be born again, that is, from above.
Matthew 1 (WEB)
1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. 3Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. 4Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. 5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse. 6Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife. 7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa. 8Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah. 9Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah. 11Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor. 14Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud. 15Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob. 16Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
22Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child,
and shall give birth to a son.
They shall call his name Immanuel,”
which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
24Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.