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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Which sometime {G4218} were disobedient {G544}, when {G3753} once {G530} the longsuffering {G3115} of God {G2316} waited {G1551} in {G1722} the days {G2250} of Noah {G3575}, while the ark {G2787} was a preparing {G2680}, wherein {G1519}{G3739} few {G3641}, that is {G5123}, eight {G3638} souls {G5590} were saved {G1295} by {G1223} water {G5204}.

Complete Jewish Bible

to those who were disobedient long ago, in the days of Noach, when God waited patiently during the building of the ark, in which a few people — to be specific, eight — were delivered by means of water.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse from 1 Peter serves as a profound historical illustration of God's character, particularly His immense patience and justice, set against the backdrop of human disobedience. It recounts how, during the era of Noah, God's longsuffering extended a period of grace while the ark was being prepared, yet ultimately, only a small remnant of eight souls were preserved through the very waters that brought judgment upon the disobedient world. This narrative forms a crucial link in Peter's theological argument concerning Christ's triumph and the nature of salvation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within Peter's broader theological argument concerning suffering for righteousness and the triumph of Christ. Immediately preceding it, [1 Peter 3:19](/1_peter/3-19 "Christ's Proclamation to the Spirits in Prison") speaks of Christ's proclamation to "the spirits in prison," which Peter then identifies in [1 Peter 3:20](/1_peter/3-20 "The Disobedient in Noah's Day") as those who were disobedient in Noah's day. The Noahic flood narrative is not merely a historical anecdote but a profound theological type, setting the stage for Peter's subsequent discussion of baptism in [1 Peter 3:21](/1_peter/3-21 "Baptism as an Appeal to God"). Thus, the flood serves as a vivid historical precedent for salvation through judgment, illustrating God's patience, the consequences of rebellion, and the narrow path to deliverance, all of which find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "days of Noah" refer to the period leading up to the Great Flood, as detailed in [Genesis 6-9](/genesis/6 "The Corruption of Humanity and God's Grief"). This era was characterized by profound human wickedness and corruption, where "every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" ([Genesis 6:5](/genesis/6-5 "Human Wickedness Before the Flood")). Despite this pervasive sin, God, in His longsuffering, provided a period of grace—traditionally understood as 120 years ([Genesis 6:3](/genesis/6-3 "God's Spirit Will Not Contend with Man Forever"))—during which Noah, "a preacher of righteousness" ([2 Peter 2:5](/2_peter/2-5 "Noah, a Preacher of Righteousness")), built the ark as a visible testament to God's impending judgment and a call to repentance. The act of building such a massive vessel, likely in a world that had never experienced rain, would have been a constant, public warning, met with widespread disbelief and scorn, highlighting the cultural norm of rejecting divine warnings.
* **Key Themes:** [1 Peter 3:20](/1_peter/3-20 "The Disobedient in Noah's Day") contributes significantly to several major themes within 1 Peter and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **God's Longsuffering and Patience**, demonstrating His willingness to extend grace and time for repentance even in the face of profound human rebellion, as also seen in [Romans 2:4](/romans/2-4 "God's Goodness Leads to Repentance") and [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "The Lord's Patience Regarding the Day of the Lord"). Secondly, it highlights the **Consequences of Disobedience and Unbelief**, showing that while God's patience is vast, it is not infinite, and persistent rejection of His warnings ultimately leads to judgment. Thirdly, the verse emphasizes the **Narrowness of Salvation**, with "few, that is, eight souls" being saved, contrasting with the many who perished. This foreshadows the New Testament concept of the narrow gate ([Matthew 7:13-14](/matthew/7-13-14 "The Narrow and Wide Gates")) and the call to stand apart. Finally, it introduces the paradoxical theme of **Water as a Medium of Both Judgment and Salvation**, a concept crucial for understanding Peter's subsequent theological connection to baptism in [1 Peter 3:21](/1_peter/3-21 "Baptism as an Appeal to God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **disobedient (Greek, _apeithéō_):** This term (G544) signifies more than mere non-compliance; it denotes a willful and perverse disbelief or refusal to be persuaded. The people in Noah's day were not simply unaware of God's will; they actively resisted and rejected the divine warnings and Noah's preaching, demonstrating a hardened heart and an obstinate refusal to believe.
* **longsuffering (Greek, _makrothymía_):** This word (G3115) describes God's longanimity, His profound patience and forbearance. It means He is slow to anger and retribution, enduring great provocation without immediately retaliating. In the context of Noah, it highlights God's immense grace in waiting for 120 years, providing ample opportunity for humanity to repent before judgment fell.
* **by water (Greek, _diá_):** The preposition `diá` (G1223) is crucial here. It means "through" or "by means of," indicating the channel or medium of an act, rather than the direct cause. Noah and his family were not saved *by* the water as a saving agent, but *through* the water, which served as the means by which they were separated from the perishing world and lifted above the judgment, thus preserving them.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Which sometime were disobedient":** This clause refers to the generation living before the Great Flood, specifically those who, despite God's warnings and Noah's efforts, refused to believe or obey. Their disobedience was a defining characteristic of that era, leading to divine judgment.
* **"when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah":** This highlights God's active and patient forbearance. The phrase "waited" (Greek, _ekdéchomai_, G1551) implies an expectation or anticipation of a response. God's patience was not passive but an intentional extension of grace, providing a window for repentance during Noah's lifetime.
* **"while the ark was a preparing":** This specifies the duration and visible sign of God's waiting. The construction of the ark (Greek, _kataskeuázō_, G2680, meaning "to prepare thoroughly" or "construct") was a prolonged process, serving as a constant, tangible warning and a testament to God's impending judgment, yet it was largely ignored.
* **"wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water":** This states the outcome: only Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives—eight individuals in total—were preserved. The phrase "saved by water" (Greek, _diasṓzō_, G1295, "to save thoroughly" or "preserve") paradoxically describes how the very element that brought destruction to the ungodly became the means of salvation for the obedient, lifting them above the judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Historical Allusion** is central, as Peter directly references the well-known biblical narrative of Noah's flood, leveraging its established meaning for his audience. There is a powerful **Paradox** or **Irony** in the phrase "saved by water," as water is typically associated with destruction in the flood narrative, yet here it is the medium of preservation for the few. This sets up a profound **Type and Antitype** relationship, where the flood and the ark serve as a "type" (a historical event or person foreshadowing a future reality) for Christian baptism, which Peter explicitly develops in the very next verse. Finally, the verse uses **Contrast** by highlighting the "few" who were saved against the implied multitude who perished, emphasizing the narrowness of the path of salvation through obedience to God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The account of Noah's flood in [1 Peter 3:20](/1_peter/3-20 "The Disobedient in Noah's Day") is a foundational theological touchstone, illustrating God's unwavering character across dispensations. It reveals a God who is both infinitely patient and perfectly just. His longsuffering is not indifference, but a deliberate delay of judgment, offering ample opportunity for repentance. Yet, His patience has a limit, and persistent disobedience invites divine reckoning. The narrative underscores that salvation, while initiated by God's grace, requires a response of faith and obedience, often leading to a separation from the prevailing norms of the world. This historical event thus serves as a timeless warning and a profound encouragement, affirming God's desire for all to come to repentance while also reminding humanity of the seriousness of rejecting His call.

* [Genesis 6:3](/genesis/6-3 "God's Spirit Will Not Contend with Man Forever")
* [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "The Lord's Patience Regarding the Day of the Lord")
* [Hebrews 11:7](/hebrews/11-7 "By Faith Noah Built the Ark")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of Noah's ark in [1 Peter 3:20](/1_peter/3-20 "The Disobedient in Noah's Day") offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. God's "longsuffering" in Noah's day is a testament to His enduring patience and desire for all to come to repentance, a characteristic that remains unchanged today. This should inspire both hope and urgency: hope in the boundless grace of God who continues to call humanity to Himself, and urgency in responding to His invitation before the window of opportunity closes. Just as Noah's generation faced a clear choice between obedience and destruction, so too are we called to make decisive choices in light of God's truth. Our salvation, like Noah's, involves a separation from the world's destructive patterns and a commitment to God's specific instructions, even when it means standing apart from the majority. This verse challenges us to consider our own response to God's patient warnings and to live lives of faith and obedience, trusting in His provision for salvation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's "longsuffering" in Noah's day challenge my understanding of His character and His dealings with humanity today?**
* **In what specific ways am I being called to respond to God's warnings or invitations in my life right now?**
* **What does it mean for me to be "saved by water" in a spiritual sense, embracing the separation from the world that God calls for?**
* **Am I willing to be among the "few" who obey God, even when it means standing against prevailing cultural norms or the majority opinion?**

### FAQ
**Who were the "disobedient" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: The "disobedient" refer to the vast majority of humanity living in the days leading up to the Great Flood, as described in [Genesis 6](/genesis/6 "The Corruption of Humanity and God's Grief"). These were people whose hearts were continually evil and who willfully rejected God's warnings and Noah's preaching of righteousness ([2 Peter 2:5](/2_peter/2-5 "Noah, a Preacher of Righteousness")) during the long period that the ark was being built. Despite God's immense patience, they refused to repent, ultimately leading to their destruction by the floodwaters.

**How were Noah and his family "saved by water"?**

Answer: The phrase "saved by water" does not mean the water itself was the saving agent, but rather that the water served as the medium or channel through which Noah and his family were preserved. As the floodwaters rose, they lifted the ark, separating Noah's family from the perishing world below. The water brought judgment upon the disobedient, but for Noah and his family, it was the means by which they passed from the old, condemned world to a new beginning. This paradoxical role of water sets the stage for Peter's discussion of baptism in the following verse, [1 Peter 3:21](/1_peter/3-21 "Baptism as an Appeal to God").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Noah's ark, as presented in [1 Peter 3:20](/1_peter/3-20 "The Disobedient in Noah's Day"), finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Noah's ark, built by divine command as a vessel of salvation amidst impending judgment, serves as a powerful type of Christ Himself. Just as the ark provided the sole means of escape from the flood, so Christ is the exclusive means of salvation from the judgment of sin and death ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). The "longsuffering of God" in Noah's day foreshadows God's ongoing patience in the present age, delaying the final judgment to allow more time for repentance through Christ ([2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "The Lord's Patience Regarding the Day of the Lord")). Furthermore, the "water" that simultaneously brought judgment and salvation in Noah's day is directly linked by Peter in the very next verse to Christian baptism, which he clarifies is not merely a physical washing but "an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" ([1 Peter 3:21](/1_peter/3-21 "Baptism as an Appeal to God")). Thus, the salvation experienced by Noah and his family through the ark and water points forward to the ultimate salvation offered through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, where believers are spiritually united with Him, passing through judgment to new life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 11:7

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Genesis 6:3

¶ And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also [is] flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

2 Peter 2:5

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Genesis 6:5

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.

Genesis 8:18

And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him:

Genesis 6:13

¶ And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Genesis 7:7

And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.