1 Peter 3:22
What does 1 Peter 3:22 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 3:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 3:22 means
Jesus Christ is now at God’s right hand, having ascended into heaven. All angels, authorities, and powers are subject to Him. The One who suffered once for sins is enthroned. This exaltation guarantees the success of His saving work and the ultimate vindication of His people. Whatever hostile forces believers face are already beneath His feet. Therefore, courage is warranted: their Lord reigns over both visible and invisible realms. Prayer ascends to a sovereign Mediator; suffering is endured under a reigning King. The arc of the chapter—from submission and peacemaking to suffering and witness—finds its anchor here: the crucified and risen Christ rules, and His victory assures the final outcome for all who are in Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who has gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been put under his rule.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who is at the right hand of God, having gone on to heaven--messengers, and authorities, and powers, having been subjected to him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who is on the right hand of God, swallowing down death that we might be made heirs of life everlasting: being gone into heaven, the angels and powers and virtues being made subject to him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who is at [the] right hand ofGod, gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being subjected to him.
Context
This final verse crowns the section (verses 18–22). After Christ’s atoning suffering and being made alive (verse 18), His proclamation to spirits (verses 19–20), and the typology of baptism grounded in His resurrection (verse 21), Peter concludes with Christ’s heavenly enthronement. This assurance closes the loop on the call to suffer for righteousness (verses 13–17): believers endure not in uncertainty but under a Lord whose authority is universal. The chapter’s ethical instructions gain their force and comfort from this reality, preparing readers to live humbly, bless enemies, and bear faithful witness amid trials.
v.21which 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;
v.22This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 1:3
who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
- Acts 1:11
who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.
- Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Hebrews 9:24
For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:
- Hebrews 8:1
Now in the things which we are saying the chief pointis this: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
- Mark 12:36
David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.
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