Charles Ellicott Commentary John 3:4

"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother`s womb, and be born?" — John 3:4 (ASV)

The proper meaning of the word rendered “sound” (φωνή) is articulate “voice.” It is used in fifteen passages in this Gospel only, and everywhere translated “voice” except here. Let the reader substitute the one meaning for the other in any of these passages, e.g.,John 1:23; John 3:29; John 5:25; John 5:28; John 10:3–5; John 10:16, and he will find that they are not interchangeable.