Then follows a conversation with Nicodemus about the meaning of being "born again" or "born from above" (), and mention of seeing the "kingdom of God". Nicodemus explores the notion of being literally born again from one's mother's womb, but most theologians recognise that Nicodemus knew Jesus was not speaking of literal rebirth. Theologian Charles Ellicott wrote that "after the method of Rabbinic dialogue, presses the impossible meaning of the words in order to exclude it, and to draw forth the true meaning. 'You cannot mean that a man is to enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born. What is it, then, that you do mean?'" In this instance, Nicodemus chooses the literal (rather than the figurative) meaning of "anōthen" and assumes that that meaning exhausts the significance of the word.