[count-your-change]

What makes me think “again” is the meaning of anothen in John 3:3 is the response of Nicodemus. It seems he took Jesus’ words to mean “again” since he spoke of being born a second time, hence again.
Would Nicodemus respond in the same way to anothen indicating “above”?

Perhaps it can be argued Jesus spoke Hebrew to Nicodemus but Greek is what we have. The Tyndale Press has an interlinear with “again” in the Greek at John 3:3 but “from above” in the English. They appear to be of two minds on the subject.

In Gal. 4:9 Paul uses anothen to mean “again” so it seems “again” is the exceptional and rare use.
1 Peter 1:3 speaks of “a new birth” so being born anew or again is not some farfetched idea.

I'm going to argue for the context of John 3:3 pointing to “again” but translators have favoured both “again” and “from above”. Not a point to gouge eyes over.

A final comment...We don't have a record of the gestures made, the facial expressions, the changes in tone that all add meaning in spoken language as opposed to the written.
Cheers.

[verga]

What makes me think “again” is the meaning of anothen in John 3:3 is the response of Nicodemus. It seems he took Jesus’ words to mean “again” since he spoke of being born a second time, hence again. Would Nicodemus respond in the same way to anothen indicating “above”?

The way I read it is that Nicodemous uses Duetron when responding to Jesus. Asking how a person can have a second birth, Not where this "birth" comes from.