Charles Ellicott Commentary John 3:2

"the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him." — John 3:2 (ASV)

The word for “blows,” “breathes,” is of the same root as πνεῦμα. It is used in the New Testament with “wind,” but naturally has the meaning of its cognate substantive. The Vulgate can exactly render it by Spiritus ubi vult spirat, but we have in English no verb cognate with “Spirit.”