1 PET 3:21 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT which, being an antitype, now saves you also, baptism—not a removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

UST That water is a symbol that represents the baptism which now saves you. This baptism does not wash dirt off of your bodies. Instead, it shows that we are asking God to assure us that he has forgiven our sins. This baptism saves you by means of God having caused Jesus the Messiah to become alive again.

BSB And [this water] symbolizes [the] baptism [that] now saves you {also}—not the removal of dirt from the body, but [the] pledge of[fn] a clear conscience toward God—through [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ,

MSB And [this water] symbolizes [the] baptism [that] now saves us {also}[fn]—not the removal of dirt from the body, but [the] pledge of[fn] a clear conscience toward God—through [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ,

BLB which also prefigures the baptism now saving you, not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the demand of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

AICNT This also, as an antitype,[fn] now saves {you},[fn] baptism, not a removal of the filth of the flesh, but an appeal for a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

3:21, This also, as an antitype: Water previously corresponded to judgment but now corresponds to salvation.

3:21, you: Later manuscripts read “us.” BYZ TR

OEB And baptism, which this foreshadowed, now saves you – not the mere cleansing of the body, but the search of a clear conscience after God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

WEBBE This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

WMBB This is a symbol of immersion, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God—through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah,

NET And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

LSV also an antitype to immersion which now saves you—not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the question of a good conscience in regard to God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

FBV This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you, not by washing off dirt from your body, but as a positive response to God that comes from a clear conscience. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes your salvation possible.

TCNT Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves [fn]us—not by removing dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

3:21 us ¦ you CT

T4T That water, by means of which eight people were saved when God punished the other people [MET], represents the water in which we are baptized to show that God has saved us from being punished. The water in which we are baptized does not remove dirt from our bodies. Instead, it shows that we are requesting God to assure us that he has removed our guilt for having sinned. And because Jesus Christ became alive again after he died, we know that God accepted his sacrifice for us and because of that he was able to remove our guilt.

LEB And[fn] also, corresponding to this, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

3:21 Literally “which”

BBE And baptism, of which this is an image, now gives you salvation, not by washing clean the flesh, but by making you free from the sense of sin before God, through the coming again of Jesus Christ from the dead;

Moff Baptism, the counterpart of that, saves you to-day (not the mere washing of dirt from the flesh but the prayer for a clean conscience before God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Wymth And, corresponding to that figure, the water of baptism now saves you—not the washing off of material defilement, but the craving of a good conscience after God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

ASV which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

DRA Whereunto baptism being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

YLT also to which an antitype doth now save us — baptism, (not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the question of a good conscience in regard to God,) through the rising again of Jesus Christ,

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

3.21 Elohim

RV which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
(which also after a true likeness doth/does now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; )

SLT By which also the figure, immersion, now saves us (not by laying aside of the filth of the flesh, but the question of a good consciousness toward God,) by the rising up of Jesus Christ:

Wbstr The like figure to which, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

KJB-1769 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
(The like figure whereunto even baptism doth/does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: )

KJB-1611 The like figure whereunto, euen Baptisme, doth also now saue vs, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answere of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Iesus Christ.
(The like figure whereunto, even Baptisme, doth/does also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Yesus/Yeshua Christ.)

Bshps To the which also the figure agreeth that nowe saueth vs, euen baptisme, not the puttyng away of the fylth of the fleshe, but in that a good conscience maketh request to God, by the resurrection of Iesus Christe:
(To the which also the figure agreeth that now saveth/saves us, even baptism, not the putting away of the fylth of the flesh, but in that a good conscience maketh/makes request to God, by the resurrection of Yesus/Yeshua Christ:)

Gnva Whereof the baptisme that nowe is, answering that figure, (which is not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but a confident demaunding which a good conscience maketh to God) saueth vs also by the resurrection of Iesus Christ,
(Whereof the baptism that now is, answering that figure, (which is not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but a confident demanding which a good conscience maketh/makes to God) saveth/saves us also by the resurrection of Yesus/Yeshua Christ, )

Cvdl Which signifieth baptyme yt now saueth vs: not ye puttinge awaye of the fylth of the flesh, but in yt a good cosciece cosenteth vnto God by ye resurreccion of Iesus Christ,
(Which signifieth baptism it now saveth/saves us: not ye/you_all puttinge away of the fylth of the flesh, but in it a good cosciece cosenteth unto God by ye/you_all resurrection of Yesus/Yeshua Christ,)

TNT which signifieth baptism that now saveth vs not the puttinge awaye of the filth of the flesshe but in that a good conscience consenteth to God by the resurreccion of Iesus Christ
(which signifieth baptism that now saveth/saves us not the puttinge away of the filth of the flesh but in that a good conscience consenteth to God by the resurrection of Yesus/Yeshua Christ )

Wycl And so baptym of lijk forme makith vs saaf; not the puttyng awei of the filthis of fleisch, but the axyng of a good conscience in God, bi the ayenrysyng of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, that is in the riyt half of God,
(And so baptism of like form maketh/makes us safe; not the putting away of the filths of flesh, but the asking of a good conscience in God, by the ayenrysing of our Lord Yhesu Christ, that is in the right half of God,)

Luth welches nun auch uns selig macht in der Taufe, die durch jenes bedeutet ist, nicht das Abtun des Unflats am Fleisch, sondern der Bund eines guten Gewissens mit GOtt durch die Auferstehung JEsu Christi,
(which now also us/to_us/ourselves blessed power in the/of_the Taufe, the through that bedeutet is, not the Abtun the filth in/at/on_the flesh, rather the/of_the federation/agreement one/a good consciences with God through the Auferstehung Yesu Christi,)

ClVg Quod et vos nunc similis formæ salvos fecit baptisma: non carnis depositio sordium, sed conscientiæ bonæ interrogatio in Deum per resurrectionem Jesu Christi.[fn]
(That and you(pl) now similar formæ salvos he_did baptism: not/no of_flesh depositio sordium, but conscience good question(n) in/into/on God through resurrection Yesu Christi. )

3.21 Quod et vos similis formæ. Baptisma facit salvos, baptisma dico similis formæ, id est per omnia assimilatum illi arcæ, quia quidquid ibi carnaliter, hic spiritualiter geritur. Non carnis depositio, etc. Non dico illum baptisma salvare, ubi tantum est depositio sordium carnis, id est ubi caro tantum abluitur exterius (quod hæretici habuerunt), sed ubi est interrogatio puræ conscientiæ, id est, ubi interrogatur et exigitur a baptista bona conscientia baptizandi: quia tale baptisma salvat, aliud occidit; interrogatio facta est tendens in Deum, ut per bonam conscientiam unum efficiatur cum Deo.

3.21 That and you(pl) similar formæ. Baptisma he_does salvos, baptism I_mean/say similar formæ, that it_is through everything assimilated them arcæ, because whatever there carnally/sensually, this/here spiritually wearsur. Not/No of_flesh depositio, etc. Not/No I_mean/say him baptism to_save, where only it_is depositio sordium of_flesh, that it_is where flesh/meat only abluitur outside (that heretics they_had), but where it_is question(n) puræ conscience, that it_is, where asksur and demandsur from baptista good(s) conscience baptizandi: because tale baptism savet, something_else killed; question(n) facts it_is tendens in/into/on God, as through good conscience one efficiatur when/with to_God.

UGNT ὃ καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀντίτυπον νῦν σῴζει βάπτισμα, οὐ σαρκὸς ἀπόθεσις ῥύπου, ἀλλὰ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς, ἐπερώτημα εἰς Θεόν δι’ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
(ho kai humas antitupon nun sōzei baptisma, ou sarkos apothesis ɽupou, alla suneidaʸseōs agathaʸs, eperōtaʸma eis Theon di’ anastaseōs Yaʸsou Ⱪristou,)

SBL-GNT ὃ ⸂καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀντίτυπον νῦν⸃ σῴζει βάπτισμα, οὐ σαρκὸς ἀπόθεσις ῥύπου ἀλλὰ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς ἐπερώτημα εἰς θεόν, διʼ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
(ho ⸂kai humas antitupon nun⸃ sōzei baptisma, ou sarkos apothesis ɽupou alla suneidaʸseōs agathaʸs eperōtaʸma eis theon, diʼ anastaseōs Yaʸsou Ⱪristou,)

RP-GNT ὃ ἀντίτυπον νῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς σῴζει βάπτισμα, οὐ σαρκὸς ἀπόθεσις ῥύπου, ἀλλὰ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς ἐπερώτημα εἰς θεόν, δι' ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ,
(ho antitupon nun kai haʸmas sōzei baptisma, ou sarkos apothesis ɽupou, alla suneidaʸseōs agathaʸs eperōtaʸma eis theon, di' anastaseōs Yaʸsou ⱪristou,)

TC-GNT [fn]ὃ ἀντίτυπον νῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς σῴζει βάπτισμα, οὐ σαρκὸς ἀπόθεσις ῥύπου, ἀλλὰ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς ἐπερώτημα εἰς Θεόν, δι᾽ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
(ho antitupon nun kai haʸmas sōzei baptisma, ou sarkos apothesis ɽupou, alla suneidaʸseōs agathaʸs eperōtaʸma eis Theon, di anastaseōs Yaʸsou Ⱪristou, )

3:21 ο αντιτυπον νυν και ημας ¦ ω και ημας αντιτυπον νυν SCR ¦ ο και ημας αντιτυπον νυν ST ¦ ο και υμας αντιτυπον νυν CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 3:8–22: God’s people may have to suffer for doing what is right

In this section Peter taught that Christians should always do good and act kindly towards others, even if they are mistreated and made to suffer. They should do this because it pleases God, and because that was how Jesus Christ behaved.

Some other headings for this section are:

Suffering for Doing Right (CEV)

Dedicate Your Lives to Jesus (GW)

3:21a

And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—

This/That water represents the water of baptism. It is baptism which saves you now from your sins.
which is a picture/illustration of baptism. It is baptism which now causes you to escape from punishment for your sins.

And: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as And here introduces a new thought on the same topic. In some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence here, as the BSB and some other versions do. For example:

And that water is a picture of baptism… (NLT)

this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also: Peter was saying that Noah’s flood pointed forward in some way to Christian baptism. There are various ways of expressing this:

which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you (GNT)

baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you (NRSV)

It is the baptism corresponding to this water which saves you now (NJB)

this water symbolizes the baptism: The Greek text that the BSB translates as this water symbolizes the baptism is literally “this/which is an antitype/symbol of baptism.” The BSB has supplied the word water. “This/which” can also be understood as referring to the whole experience of passing through the flood. This is implied by the NET (context is given), which says:

^20cIn the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. ^21aAnd this prefigured baptism… (NET)

symbolizes: The Greek word that the BSB translates as symbolizes in this context refers to representing something that is still future. Consider how you might say that something represents or illustrates something else that has not happened yet. Some other ways symbolizes has been translated are:

is a picture of (NLT)

is like (NCV)

which corresponds to (RSV)

baptism: The word baptism refers to the ceremony of ritual washing to purify someone or something. It is connected to a person being purified from sin.

In translating this word, be sure to choose a term that is acceptable to all the churches in your area. Unless there is a term already in use by all churches, it may be better to borrow the word from Greek or your national language.

Here are some ways to translate baptism:

Use a descriptive phrase:
sacred washing
purification/initiation for God
entering water
Use a term for a similar ritual that is already part of your culture. You may need to indicate that in this context it has a special connection with God. For example:
God’s ceremonial bath
initiation washing for God
Use a term that is already accepted by the local churches. In some areas this term may have been borrowed from the national language or transliterated from Greek or English.

In some languages you may need to use a verb to translate baptism. For example:

ritually wash/clean

initiate people in/with water

purify people in God’s ceremonial bath

that now saves you also: The Greek word that the BSB translates as saves means to rescue someone from danger or trouble. In this context, saves is being used in a very general way. The act of receiving baptism does not directly save a person. Baptism is an outward symbol of what God does when he cleanses a person, raises him from spiritual death, and gives him new life.

Some other ways to translate saves include:

rescues

causes you to escape

3:21b

not the removal of dirt from the body,

Baptism is not about getting rid of dirt from the body.
Being baptised is not a matter of cleaning the body,

not the removal of dirt from the body: The phrase not the removal of dirt from the body means “baptism is not about removing dirt from your body.” Baptism was a form of ritual washing, but it was not the cleaning of the body that was important. Some other ways this phrase has been translated include:

not the washing of dirt from the body (NCV)

more than just washing your body (CEV)

3:21c

but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—

No, it is about appealing to God to give you a clear/clean conscience.
but rather it is a matter of asking God to cleanse your hearts.

but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as but introduces a contrast. Peter had just said in 3:21b what aspect of baptism was not important, and now in 3:31c he states what aspect of baptism is important. Translate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

the pledge of a clear conscience: The Greek word that the BSB translates as pledge literally means “request” or “appeal.” In this context it can mean “promise,” “appeal,” or “answer.” There are therefore several ways of understanding the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the pledge of a clear conscience:

It means “asking for a clear conscience.” For example:
an appeal to God for a clear conscience (RSV) (NASB, GW, RSV)
It means “making a promise from a clean conscience.” For example:
the promise made to God from a good conscience (GNT) (NET, NCV, GNT; probably NJB, NIV)
It means “promising to live with a clear conscience.” This interpretation has the strongest support from biblical scholars.This understanding is suggested by Marshall page 131; Best page 148; Achtemeier page 270–272; Kelly page 163. It is a possible understanding of the NJB:
the pledge of a good conscience (NJB) (possibly BSB, NIV, NJB)
It means “asking for salvation/forgiveness from a clear conscience.” For example:
the appeal made to God from a good conscience (REB) (NLT, REB)
It means “responding from a clear conscience.” For example:
the answer of a good conscience (KJV) (KJV, probably CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). However, any of the interpretations are possible, and you may wish to consult the major language version in your area.

toward God: There are two ways of understanding the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as toward God:

It means toward God and modifies the phrase “good conscience.” For example:
the pledge of a good conscience toward God (NIV) (BSB, NIV, KJV, GNT, NJB, CEV, NCV, REB, NET)
It means to God and modifies the word “pledge/appeal/answer.” For example:
an appeal to God for a good conscience (NASB) (RSV, NLT, GW, NCV, NASB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), which has more commentary support.

3:21d

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

This baptism saves you because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.
Jesus Christ has come alive from the dead. That is why you can be saved as you receive baptism.

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ: The BSB has associated this verse part with 3:21a by setting off 3:21b and 3:21c with dashes.

In this verse part Peter explained how being baptized could be said to save a person. It is because Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead that people who are baptized are saved.

the resurrection of Jesus Christ: The phrase the resurrection refers to the event when God caused Jesus to live again. Some other ways resurrection can be translated are:

rise from the dead

come alive from the dead

God caused…to live again

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

ὃ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὅ καί ὑμᾶς ἀντίτυπον νῦν σῴζει βάπτισμα οὒ σαρκός ἀπόθεσις ῥύπου ἀλλά συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς ἐπερώτημα εἰς Θεόν διʼ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ)

Here, which refers back to the “water” mentioned at the end of the last verse. If this might confuse your readers, you could express this explicitly, as in the UST.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ὃ καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀντίτυπον νῦν σῴζει βάπτισμα

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: [which, being an antitype for baptism, now saves you also]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὃ καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀντίτυπον νῦν σῴζει βάπτισμα

Here, antitype refers to one thing that is an analogy for another thing. In this context the “water” from the previous verse is an analogy for baptism. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express this explicitly. Alternate translation: [which is a symbol for baptism, now saves you also] or [which is analogous to baptism, now saves you also]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

βάπτισμα

˓the˒_baptism

Here Peter uses baptism to refer to the faith in Jesus that believers profess when they are baptized. The Bible clearly states that God saves people by grace through faith, not by any work like baptism ([Ephesians 2:8–9](../eph/02/08.md)). See the discussion in the General Notes for this chapter. If this might confuse your readers, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [the faith in Jesus demonstrated by baptism]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

οὐ σαρκὸς ἀπόθεσις ῥύπου, ἀλλὰ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς, ἐπερώτημα εἰς Θεόν

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of removal and appeal, you can express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [it does not remove dirt from the flesh, but appeals to God for a good conscience]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

σαρκὸς

Here, Peter uses flesh to refer to a person’s physical body that is made of flesh. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [from the body]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς, ἐπερώτημα εἰς Θεόν

˱of˲_˓a˒_conscience good ˓the˒_inquiry toward God

Here the phrase a good conscience means Peter’s readers do not feel guilty because they know that God has forgiven their sins. If this might confuse your readers, you could express this explicitly. Alternate translation: [an appeal to God to know that your sins have been forgiven]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

καὶ ὑμᾶς & νῦν σῴζει βάπτισμα, οὐ σαρκὸς ἀπόθεσις ῥύπου, ἀλλὰ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς, ἐπερώτημα εἰς Θεόν δι’ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,

Here, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ indicates the means by which the faith demonstrated by baptism saves. If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these phrases to make that meaning clear. Alternate translation: [baptism now saves you also through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not a removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δι’ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

through ˓the˒_resurrection ˱of˲_Jesus Christ

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of resurrection, you can express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [through God raising Jesus Christ from the dead]

Parallel 1 PET 3:21

Section 3:8–22: God’s people may have to suffer for doing what is right

3:21a

3:21b

3:21c

3:21d

Parallel 1 PET 3:21