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1 Peter 3:20

in 1 Peter 3

who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

KJV

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

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This verse in 1 Peter 3

Commentary

2 notes on this verse

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

When the longsuffering of God waited - For an hundred and twenty years; all the time the ark was preparing: during which Noah warned them all to flee from the wrath to come.

This site's exposition

the spirits in prison

on 1 Peter 3:19-20

By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, disobedient in the days of Noah, is the letter's hardest text and the readings are old: the reading this site's posture receives first takes the spirits as the angels that sinned before the flood, the Genesis 6:1-4 Watchers, held in chains as the letter-pair's own words say at 2 Peter 2:4-5 and Jude 6, and the preaching as the risen Lord's proclamation of victory, kerusso, a herald's announcement, not a gospel offer; 1 Enoch, a labeled study resource this site teaches on its own shelf, carries the same imprisonment tradition Peter's readers knew. Augustine's line reads the preincarnate Christ preaching through Noah to men whose spirits are now in prison, and a third reading places the preaching in Hades between death and resurrection; each stands with its holders. On every main reading no second chance after death is taught, and the longsuffering of God that waited while the ark was a preparing remains the verse's own note of patience, eight souls saved by water.

The words behind it

23 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.25 worksHebrews 11:7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.15 works2 Peter 2:5if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;11 worksGenesis 6:3So the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.”10 worksGenesis 6:5Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.9 worksGenesis 7:1Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.9 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Genesis 7:23And every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained.8 worksRomans 15:5Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,8 worksGenesis 8:18So Noah came out, along with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives.7 worksGenesis 6:13Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.6 worksGenesis 6:14Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out.6 works2 Peter 3:15Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.6 worksGenesis 6:17And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish.6 worksRomans 2:4–5Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?5 works1 Timothy 1:16But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.5 worksRevelation 2:21Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.5 worksGenesis 7:17–23For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and the waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth.4 worksMatthew 24:37–39As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.4 works

Where this verse connects

1 approved connection.

  • A picture of Christ

    Genesis 6:14

    One door, pitch-sealed, carrying the remnant through the flood; 1 Pet 3:20-21 warrants the ark-baptism link (NT-warranted, not extended).

    Source: Gen 6:14-16; 1 Pet 3:20; Habershon

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Genesis 6:5

    Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 15:19

      For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

    • Romans 1:28–31

      Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

    • Mark 7:21–23

      For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

    • Jeremiah 4:14

      Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?

    • Jeremiah 17:9

      The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

  • Through

    Hebrews 11:7

    By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes…

    it leads to

    • Genesis 6:13

      Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.

    • Ezekiel 14:14

      then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.

  • Through

    Genesis 6:3

    So the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.”

    it leads to

    • Nehemiah 9:30

      You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they would not listen, so You gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Peter

Peter's Denial — the restored sufferer — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Peter's Denial — the restored sufferer — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
1 Peter: the study guide →Read 1 Peter 3 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament.

Read on in 1 Peter 3 →