1 Peter 3:19 Meaning and Explanation
“By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →By the Spirit, Christ went and proclaimed to the spirits held in prison.
What Does 1 Peter 3:19 Mean?
Following his death in the flesh and his being made alive by the Spirit, Peter says Christ went and preached to the spirits in prison. The verse stands at the edge of mystery, and Peter offers it without softening it.
The plain words say what they say: Christ went, and he proclaimed, and there were spirits in prison who heard him. Where he went, who exactly these spirits are, and what his proclamation accomplished, Peter does not fully explain. He lets the wonder stand open. What is clear is that the saving reach of the crucified and living Christ extended even here, to spirits in a place of confinement, and that no realm lay beyond the going of the One made alive by the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:19 in the Original Language
kerysso (κηρύσσω), 'preached' -- to herald or proclaim openly, to announce as a herald announces.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Peter 3:19
What does 1 Peter 3:19 mean?
By the Spirit, Christ went and proclaimed to the spirits held in prison.