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1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:20 KJV (With Strong’s)

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20
Which sometime
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
pote (Greek #4218)
indefinite adverb, at some time, ever
KJV usage: afore-(any, some-)time(-s), at length (the last), (+ n- )ever, in the old time, in time past, once, when.
Pronounce: pot-eh'
Origin: from the base of 4225 and 5037
were disobedient
apeitheo (Greek #544)
to disbelieve (wilfully and perversely)
KJV usage: not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving.
Pronounce: ap-i-theh'-o
Origin: from 545
, when
hote (Greek #3753)
at which (thing) too, i.e. when
KJV usage: after (that), as soon as, that, when, while.
Pronounce: hot'-eh
Origin: from 3739 and 5037
once
hapax (Greek #530)
one (or a single) time (numerically or conclusively)
KJV usage: once.
Pronounce: hap'-ax
Origin: probably from 537
f the longsuffering
makrothumia (Greek #3115)
longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude
KJV usage: longsuffering, patience.
Pronounce: mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah
Origin: from the same as 3116
of God
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
theos (Greek #2316)
a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
KJV usage: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
Pronounce: theh'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
waited
ekdechomai (Greek #1551)
to accept from some source, i.e. (by implication) to await
KJV usage: expect, look (tarry) for, wait (for).
Pronounce: ek-dekh'-om-ahee
Origin: from 1537 and 1209
in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
the days
hemera (Greek #2250)
day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)
KJV usage: age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.
Pronounce: hay-mer'-ah
Origin: feminine (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of ἧμαι (to sit; akin to the base of 1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle
of Noah
Noe (Greek #3575)
Noe, (i.e. Noach), a patriarch
KJV usage: Noe.
Pronounce: no'-eh
Origin: of Hebrew origin (05146)
, while the ark
kibotos (Greek #2787)
a box, i.e. the sacred ark and that of Noah
KJV usage: ark.
Pronounce: kib-o-tos'
Origin: of uncertain derivation
was a preparing
kataskeuazo (Greek #2680)
to prepare thoroughly (properly, by external equipment; whereas 2090 refers rather to internal fitness); by implication, to construct, create
KJV usage: build, make, ordain, prepare.
Pronounce: kat-ask-yoo-ad'-zo
Origin: from 2596 and a derivative of 4632
, wherein
eis (Greek #1519)
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
KJV usage: (abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ice
Origin: a primary preposition
few
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
oligos (Greek #3641)
puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat
KJV usage: + almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.
Pronounce: ol-ee'-gos
Origin: of uncertain affinity
, that
touto (Greek #5124)
that thing
KJV usage: here (-unto), it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto), this, thus, where(-fore).
Pronounce: too'-to
Origin: neuter singular nominative or accusative case of 3778
is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
, eight
oktos (Greek #3638)
"eight"
KJV usage: eight.
Pronounce: ok-to'
Origin: a primary numeral
souls
psuche (Greek #5590)
breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from 4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from 2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew 05315, 07307 and 02416)
KJV usage: heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.
Pronounce: psoo-khay'
Origin: from 5594
were saved
diasozo (Greek #1295)
to save thoroughly, i.e. (by implication or analogy) to cure, preserve, rescue, etc.
KJV usage: bring safe, escape (safe), heal, make perfectly whole, save.
Pronounce: dee-as-odze'-o
Origin: from 1223 and 4982
by
dia (Greek #1223)
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
KJV usage: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
Pronounce: dee-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act
water
hudor (Greek #5204)
water (as if rainy) literally or figuratively
KJV usage: water.
Pronounce: hoo'-dore
Origin: ὕδατος (hoo'-dat-os), etc. from the base of 5205
.
f
Gen. 6•  (Gen. 6)

More on:

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God,
Noah,
Sometime; Sometimes,
Soul; Spirit

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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sometime.
Gen. 6:3,5,13•  (Gen. 6:3,5,13)
the longsuffering.
Isa. 30:18•  (Isa. 30:18)
;
Rom. 2:4‑5• 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
 5But according to thy hardness and unrepentant heart thou treasurest to thyself wrath in [the] day of wrath and revelation of God's righteous judgment, (Rom. 2:4‑5)
;
Rom. 9:22• 22And if God, willing to display his wrath and to make known his power, endured in much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, (Rom. 9:22)
;
2 Peter 3:15• 15and count the long-suffering of our Lord salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, (2 Peter 3:15)
the days.
Matt. 24:37‑39• 37But as the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man;
 38for as in those days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
 39and they knew not until the flood came and took them all away, so shall the coming of the Son of man be. (Matt. 24:37‑39)
;
Luke 17:26‑30• 26{i}And as it took place in the days of Noah, thus also shall it be in the days of the Son of man:{/i}
 27they ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all [of them].
 28And in like manner as took place in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
 29but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed all [of them]:
 30after this [manner] shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:26‑30)
while.
Gen. 6:14‑22•  (Gen. 6:14‑22)
;
Heb. 11:7• 7By faith Noah, oracularly warned of things not yet beheld, moved with fear, constructed an ark for saving his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of righteousness that is according to faith. (Heb. 11:7)
wherein.
Gen. 7:1‑7,13,23•  (Gen. 7:1‑7,13,23)
;
Gen. 8:1,18•  (Gen. 8:1,18)
;
Matt. 7:14• 14Because narrow [is] the gate, and straitened the way that leadeth off unto life, and few are they that find it. (Matt. 7:14)
;
Luke 12:32• 32{i}Fear not, little flock, for it has been the good pleasure of your Father to give you the kingdom.{/i} (Luke 12:32)
;
Luke 13:24‑25• 24Strive with earnestness to enter in through the narrow door, for many, I say unto you, will endeavour to enter in and will not be able.
 25From the time that the master of the house shall have risen up, and shall have shut the door, and ye shall begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he answering shall say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:24‑25)
;
2 Peter 2:5• 5and spared not an ancient world but preserved Noah an eighth, a preacher of righteousness, having brought a flood upon a world of ungodly ones; (2 Peter 2:5)
by.
Gen. 7:17‑23•  (Gen. 7:17‑23)
;
2 Cor. 2:15‑16• 15Because we are a sweet odour of Christ to God in those to be saved, and in those that perish:
 16to the one an odour from death unto death, but to the others an odour from life unto life; and who [is] sufficient for these things? (2 Cor. 2:15‑16)
;
Eph. 5:26• 26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed [it] by the washing of water in [the] word, (Eph. 5:26)
• the only ones said to be the objects of His preaching were that generation of mankind which had been favored with the pleading of His Spirit in Noah. Such a favor when they were alive would much more naturally have weighed against the alleged visitation after death, even if other scriptures did not prove its needlessness for saints and its unavailingness for sinners. (“1 Peter 3:19-20” by W. Kelly)
• The clear bearing of the teaching is to contrast the disobedient mass of spirits (in the prison of the separate state for such) with the few who in the ark were brought safe through water. 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 3:19-20” by W. Kelly)
• These spirits then are in prison, because they did not hearken to the Spirit of Christ in Noah (compare 2 Peter 2:5-9). (“1 Peter 3” by J.N. Darby)

J. N. Darby Translation

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20
heretofore disobedienti, when the longsufferingk of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was preparing, into which few, that is, eight souls, were savedl through waterm:

JND Translation Notes

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i
Or "disbelieving." see John 3.36 and ch. 2.7,8.
k
Makrothumia. see Note.f, Jas. 5.7.
l
The Greek means "arrive safe into a place of security through difficulty or danger," as Acts 27.44.
m
This does not mean, I think, that they went through the water to get in, i.e. through the course of the flood. The apostle's mind does not turn to the flood, but to the water as an instrument. Water was ruin and death, and they were saved through it.

W. Kelly Translation

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disobedienta aforetimeb when the long-suffering of God was waitingc in Noah’s days, while an ark was being prepared, in which few, that is eight souls, were brought safe through waterd;

WK Translation Notes

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a
The absence of the article before "disobedient" proves the participle to be part of the predicate and assigns the reason for their present imprisonment, "disobedient as heretofore they were when" etc.
b
It is not accurate to render apeithēsasin pote "which aforetime were disobedient" as this would require the article tois. Is not the force rather "disobedient as they once proved when," etc. Their being in prison was in consequence of their previous disobedience to God’s patient warning.
c
The word apexedecheto, "was waiting," is unquestionably correct, only one ancient MSS. being adverse.
d
"Through water" is right, not "by" it. Water was the destructive element, through which grace saved Noah and those with him in the ark.