1 Peter 3:21 KJV (With Strong’s)

The like figure
antitupon (Greek #499)
corresponding ("antitype"), i.e. a representative, counterpart
KJV usage: (like) figure (whereunto).
Pronounce: an-teet'-oo-pon
Origin: neuter of a compound of 473 and 5179
hos (Greek #3739)
Pronounce: hos
even baptism
baptisma (Greek #908)
baptism (technically or figuratively)
KJV usage: baptism.
Pronounce: bap'-tis-mah
Origin: from 907
l doth
sozo (Greek #4982)
KJV usage: heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
Pronounce: sode'-zo
Origin: from a primary σῶς (contraction for obsolete σάος, "safe")
kai (Greek #2532)
Pronounce: kahee
nun (Greek #3568)
KJV usage: henceforth, + hereafter, of late, soon, present, this (time). See also 3569, 3570.
Pronounce: noon
Origin: a primary particle of present time
sozo (Greek #4982)
Pronounce: sode'-zo
hemas (Greek #2248)
KJV usage: our, us, we.
Pronounce: hay-mas'
Origin: accusative case plural of 1473
ou (Greek #3756)
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not
Pronounce: oo
the putting away
apothesis (Greek #595)
a laying aside (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: putting away (off).
Pronounce: ap-oth'-es-is
Origin: from 659
of the filth
rhupos (Greek #4509)
dirt, i.e. (morally) depravity
KJV usage: filth.
Pronounce: hroo'-pos
Origin: of uncertain affinity
of the flesh
sarx (Greek #4561)
KJV usage: carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).
Pronounce: sarx
Origin: probably from the base of 4563
, but
alla (Greek #235)
Pronounce: al-lah'
Origin: neuter plural of 243
the answer
eperotema (Greek #1906)
an inquiry
KJV usage: answer.
Pronounce: ep-er-o'-tay-mah
Origin: from 1905
of a good
agathos (Greek #18)
"good" (in any sense, often as noun)
KJV usage: benefit, good(-s, things), well. Compare 2570.
Pronounce: ag-ath-os'
Origin: a primary word
suneidesis (Greek #4893)
co-perception, i.e. moral consciousness
KJV usage: conscience.
Pronounce: soon-i'-day-sis
Origin: from a prolonged form of 4894
m toward
eis (Greek #1519)
Pronounce: ice
Origin: a primary preposition
theos (Greek #2316)
Pronounce: theh'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
,) by
dia (Greek #1223)
Pronounce: dee-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act
the resurrection
anastasis (Greek #386)
a standing up again, i.e. (literally) a resurrection from death (individual, genitive case or by implication, (its author)), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth)
KJV usage: raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again.
Pronounce: an-as'-tas-is
Origin: from 450
of Jesus
Iesous (Greek #2424)
KJV usage: Jesus.
Pronounce: ee-ay-sooce'
Origin: of Hebrew origin (03091)
Christos (Greek #5547)
anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
KJV usage: Christ.
Pronounce: khris-tos'
Origin: from 5548

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Cross References


Ministry on This Verse

Matt. 28:19• 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matt. 28:19)
Mark 16:16• 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16)
Acts 22:16• 16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)
Rom. 6:3‑6• 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
(Rom. 6:3‑6)
Gal. 3:27• 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27)
Eph. 5:26• 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Eph. 5:26)
Col. 2:12• 12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Col. 2:12)
Titus 3:5‑7• 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
(Titus 3:5‑7)
the putting.
the answer.
 The unbelieving Jews who objected to the fewness of the Christians were thus powerfully met, as well as their contempt for preaching as having no serious effect, whether believed or rejected. (1 Peter 3:21-22 by W. Kelly)
 It figures therefore not life, as says tradition ever dark and misleading, but salvation, the present salvation of our souls, and pledge of the glorious change for our bodies at Christ's coming. Baptism sets forth our passing out of the fallen estate into the new standing of salvation "through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:21-22 by W. Kelly)
 He was raised up without the sins which He expiated on the cross. And they were our sins; and thus, through the resurrection, we have a good conscience. We pass through death in spirit and in figure by baptism. (1 Peter 3 by J.N. Darby)

J. N. Darby Translation

which figure also now saves you, even baptism, not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the demandn as before God of a good conscience, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

JND Translation Notes

Or "engagement," or "testimony." The Greek word here translated "demand" is a very difficult one, and has puzzled all critics and commentators. It means "a question." All the commentators speak of its use as a legal term with the sense of contract, or rather stipulations or obligations of a contract. I judge (as usual in these forms) that it refers to the question asked rather than to the asking of the question. The legal use arises from a questioning which settled the terms of the contract, hence called the questioning. I am disposed to think it is the thing demanded. It requires as before God, and has it in baptism as a figure by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It must be remembered that "of a good conscience" in English may be the thing requested or "he who requests." The form of the word in the Greek would rather make it the thing requested or demanded.

W. Kelly Translation

which figure also now saveth you, baptism, not a putting away of filth of flesh, but a request of a good conscience toward God through Jesus Christ’s resurrection1;

WK Translation Notes

figure [or, antitype]: The Elzevir Edd., like Beza’s, and before all, the Complut., followed indifferent MSS., in giving ῷ, which the Auth. V. adopted; but Erasmus, Colinaeus, Stephens, with whom agreed Wells, Lachmann, Griesbach, Scholz, and all modern critics, given ὄ on fuller and better authority. Revisers of course correct accordingly; but they are not very consistent in their rendering of ἀντίτθπον. For the only other N.T. use of the word is in Heb. 9:24, there "like in pattern," here "after a true likeness." There seems no sufficient ground to translate differently in the two cases. "Figure" is the sense in both, as the A.V. conveys. Also א A B P, many cursives, and the ancient versions have ὐμᾶς, "you," instead of ἠμᾶς, "us." There are curious omissions in the witnesses; as the Sinaitic, the cursive 78, and Aeth. omit ὄ. Again νῦν "now," is dropped by several cursives, the Pesch. Syr. and Arm., as well as Cyprian. Of lesser aberrations we need not speak. The true text emerges with certainty. (Epist. of Peter, p.205)
you... request: the Authorized Version followed Beza (as did Elz.) in rejecting Stephens’ reading, which is the ancient one, the Sinaitic cutting the knot by rejecting both. "You" is probably right; but ἐπερώτημα is rather "demand," anything interrogated, than the interrogation which suggests a dubious or misleading sense. (Bible Treasury 14:80)
not a putting away of filth of flesh, but a request: "not putting away of filth of flesh, but demand" etc. (Bible Treasury 15:64)
request: They inquired for a good conscience; for this is the true force of the expression in 1 Peter 3: not "the answer" as in the Authorized Version, but the inquiry (ἐπερώτημα) for a good conscience. In Acts 2, they inquired for and got it. (Bible Treasury 9:16)