1 Peter 3 20

1 Peter 3:20 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.

1 Peter 3:20 nkjv

who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

1 Peter 3:20 niv

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

1 Peter 3:20 esv

because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

1 Peter 3:20 nlt

those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.

1 Peter 3 verses

1 Peter 3 20 Meaning

This verse identifies those "spirits in prison" from the preceding verse as individuals living during Noah's time who stubbornly resisted God's call to obedience. It highlights God's immense patience and forbearance during the period the ark was being constructed, providing ample opportunity for repentance. Despite this prolonged divine mercy, only a tiny remnant—Noah and his family, eight individuals—were preserved through the judgment of the floodwaters.

1 Peter 3 20 Context

First Peter 3:20 is deeply embedded within a broader theological explanation following Christ's suffering and vindication. Peter instructs believers on how to respond to suffering for righteousness, presenting Christ as the ultimate example (1 Pet 3:18). Verse 19 mentions Christ's "proclamation to the spirits in prison," a passage that has generated much discussion. Verse 20 directly clarifies who these spirits were: the disobedient from the era of Noah.

This historical reference serves several purposes within Peter's overall message. It provides a historical precedent for God's judgment upon the wicked and His salvation of a faithful remnant. It highlights God's patience, extending a long period for repentance before executing judgment. Furthermore, this verse sets the stage for the pivotal comparison between the salvation through Noah's flood and Christian baptism in 1 Peter 3:21, emphasizing the typological nature of Noah's experience as a foreshadowing of salvation in Christ through the resurrection. The context reassures suffering believers that their enduring faith, even in times of persecution, is aligned with God's ultimate plan of judgment and salvation.

1 Peter 3 20 Word Analysis

• which sometime were disobedient (ἀπειθήσασίν ποτε - apeithēsasin pote):

  • which sometime: Refers directly back to the "spirits in prison" in 1 Pet 3:19. The Greek pote indicates a past, definite period.
  • were disobedient (ἀπειθήσασιν - apeithēsasin): From apeitheō, meaning "to be disobedient," "to refuse to be persuaded," "to rebel." This is a profound and active rejection of divine authority and instruction, indicating willful non-submission rather than simple ignorance. In the biblical context, it implies a failure to heed God's voice, which could have been through Noah's preaching or divine warnings.

• when once (ὅτε ἀπεξεδέχετο - hote apezekdecheto): Indicates a specific point in time, "when," but combined with the verb of waiting, it describes a period during which something happened.

• the longsuffering of God (ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ μακροθυμία - hē tou theou makrothymia):

  • longsuffering (μακροθυμία - makrothymia): A divine attribute, meaning "long-temperedness," patience, slowness in avenging wrong. It emphasizes God's endurance, His willingness to delay judgment and extend opportunities for repentance, rather than immediately punishing wrongdoing.

• waited (ἀπεξεδέχετο - apezedecheto): An intensive form of "to wait for." It suggests God's active, patient expectation and enduring forbearance. This was not a passive waiting but a deliberate divine choice to offer more time before judgment.

• in the days of Noah (ἐν ἡμέραις Νῶε - en hēmerais Nōe): Establishes a clear historical setting, making the disobedient identifiable to the original audience and anchoring the theological point in a well-known biblical event. This era was specifically marked by rampant wickedness and God's patience leading up to the Flood (Gen 6:5-7).

• while the ark was a preparing (κατασκευαζομένης κιβωτοῦ - kataskeuazomenēs kibōtou):

  • ark (κιβωτός - kibōtos): Refers specifically to Noah's vessel. It served as a visible testament to God's command, Noah's faith, and the impending judgment, acting as a concrete object of warning and a pathway to salvation.
  • was a preparing: Highlights a prolonged period during which the ark was under construction. Tradition suggests this period was 120 years (Gen 6:3), giving humanity an extended period to witness Noah's obedient preparation and respond to God's grace. This visible labor was a constant, tangible warning and demonstration of God's foretold judgment.

• wherein (εἰς ἣν - eis hēn): "into which," referring to the ark.

• few, that is, eight souls (ὀλίγοι, τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν ὀκτὼ ψυχαί - oligoi, tout’ estin oktō psychai):

  • few (ὀλίγοι - oligoi): Emphasizes the very small number of people saved relative to the vast population of the world. It highlights the exclusivity of salvation from the universal judgment and serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of widespread disobedience.
  • eight souls (ὀκτὼ ψυχαί - oktō psychai): Specifies Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives (Gen 7:7, 13). Psychai here means "persons" or "living beings," referring to individuals.

• were saved by water (δι᾽ ὕδατος διεσώθησαν - di’ hydatos diesōthēsan):

  • were saved (διεσώθησαν - diesōthēsan): From diasōzō, meaning "to save thoroughly," "to bring safely through." It emphasizes not just preservation, but safe passage through a dangerous situation.
  • by water (δι᾽ ὕδατος - di’ hydatos): Crucial prepositional phrase, indicating the medium or means by which salvation occurred. It's not "from" water (escaping the water), but "through" or "by means of" the water. The floodwaters were both the instrument of divine judgment that destroyed the wicked world and the vehicle upon which the ark was carried safely to a new beginning. The water cleansed the earth but also delivered the ark's inhabitants from the corruption of the old world. This sets up the typology for Christian baptism, where water also represents a passage from an old state to a new one (death to sin, resurrection to new life).

1 Peter 3 20 Bonus section

The historical event of Noah's flood and the preservation of his family serve as a theological type (typos) or pattern that Peter immediately draws upon for Christian baptism in the very next verse (1 Pet 3:21). The water, rather than solely a symbol of destruction, is depicted as an agent through which God works His salvific purposes. The ark, safely buoyed on the waters, passed through the judgment, demonstrating that while the water brought about the end of one age, it ushered in a new beginning for those within God's chosen vessel. This profound duality of judgment and salvation within the same event—enabled by the water—highlights God's multifaceted sovereignty. It also foreshadows how God uses a "washing" in the New Covenant to mark passage from an old life of sin and condemnation to a new life in Christ's resurrection, representing an appeal to God for a good conscience rather than a mere physical cleansing.

1 Peter 3 20 Commentary

First Peter 3:20 serves as a powerful historical illustration within Peter's theology of suffering and salvation. It elucidates God's character, emphasizing His profound patience and willingness to provide extensive opportunities for repentance, even for the most stubborn. The specific setting of "the days of Noah" is chosen because it perfectly embodies this divine attribute: God's Spirit strove with humanity for a protracted period (120 years, by tradition) while the ark, a tangible sign of impending judgment and offered deliverance, was meticulously built. During this time, the world remained "disobedient," choosing rebellion and wickedness over the clear warning.

The tragic outcome, the salvation of "few, that is, eight souls," underscores the sobering reality of the narrow path of salvation. God's grace, while extended broadly through patience, is only effective for those who respond with obedience and faith. The seemingly paradoxical statement "saved by water" is key: the very element that brought destructive judgment upon the disobedient became the medium of salvation for Noah and his family. The ark, traversing the waters, represents a passage through divine wrath into a renewed existence. This historical precedent lays the foundational groundwork for Peter's subsequent declaration regarding Christian baptism (1 Pet 3:21), where water similarly serves as a powerful symbol of separation from the old life of sin and emergence into a new life through Christ's resurrection. It teaches believers that God is faithful to preserve His own even amidst universal judgment, and that salvation often involves a passage through a purging process, leading to true deliverance.