For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The original Hebrew for "Holy One" here carries a sense of deep affection and devotion, not just holiness. This subtle emphasis highlights that God's promise wasn't just about preserving something pure, but about honoring someone He deeply loved. It underscores the personal aspect of God's unwavering commitment to His Son.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is quoting Psalm 16, applying it to Jesus' resurrection. He's arguing that David, as a prophet, spoke of Christ's future resurrection, not his own. Peter emphasizes that David died and was buried, his tomb still visible, but Jesus' body was raised before it could decay.
When Jesus died, where did his 'soul' go? This verse uses the word 'Hades,' which can be confusing. Let's unpack what it really meant for Jesus' experience.
Beyond the Grave
The Bible uses "Hades" (translated as "hell" in many older English versions) to refer to the realm of the dead – not necessarily a place of punishment, but the state of departed spirits. Think of it as the 'unseen world' where everyone went after death before Jesus' resurrection.
Peter is quoting Psalm 16 here, applying it directly to Jesus. He's not saying Jesus' soul went to a place of torment, but that God wouldn't leave Jesus' spirit in this state of death. His death was real, but it wasn't the end of His story.
The verse also speaks of God not allowing His "Holy One" to "see corruption." What does this powerful phrase reveal about Jesus' unique resurrection?
Death Couldn't Hold Him
This phrase, "see corruption," refers to the physical decay of the body after death. It's a vivid image of the finality and destructiveness of death.
But Jesus, being the "Holy One" – uniquely set apart by God – was not subject to the normal laws of death and decay. His body, laid in the tomb, would not be corrupted. This isn't just about His body staying intact; it's a profound declaration of His divine nature and the power of His resurrection, proving that death had no ultimate power over Him.
Understand the original words
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hadēs · Greek Noun
In this context, the realm of the dead or the grave. In Greek thought, it is the underworld; in Hebrew thought, it is Sheol, the place where the souls of the departed reside.
hosios · Greek Adjective/Noun
One who is set apart for God's exclusive service and possesses divine purity. In the New Testament, this term is specifically applied to Jesus Christ, denoting His absolute holiness and divine status.
diaphthora · Greek Noun
The decay or decomposition of the body after death. Used here to contrast the normal physical experience of mortality with the resurrection of the Messiah.
Peter quotes Psalm 16:10 to demonstrate that Jesus' resurrection was a certainty, meaning God foresaw and planned His Son would not remain in the state of the dead nor experience decay. This points to Jesus as the promised Messiah, whose death and resurrection were not the end but a pivotal victory.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus
Jesus is crucified and his body is placed in a tomb. This event is the direct context for Peter's sermon and his quote from Psalm 16.
c. 30 AD
Resurrection of Jesus
According to Christian belief, Jesus is raised from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Appearances to Disciples
The risen Jesus appears to his followers over a period of 40 days, commissioning them and preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
c. 33 AD
Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles in Jerusalem, empowering them to preach the Gospel. This event immediately follows Peter's sermon quoting Psalm 16.
c. 40-60 AD
Early Spread of Christianity
The apostles and early Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit, begin to evangelize throughout the Roman Empire.
c. 62 AD
Writing of Acts
The Book of Acts, which records these events and Peter's sermon, is written by Luke.
This is the direct Old Testament passage Peter is quoting from in Acts 2, revealing the original context of the promise of not being left in the grave or seeing corruption.
1 Peter 3:18-20Peter himself expands on the idea of Christ's spirit going to the 'spirits in prison' after His death, which sheds light on the 'soul in Hades' aspect of the verse.
Romans 6:9This passage directly affirms Christ's resurrection, stating that 'death no longer has dominion over him,' which is the ultimate fulfillment of the promise in Acts 2:27.
John 11:25-26Jesus' declaration to Martha about Him being the resurrection and the life shows the divine power over death and corruption that Peter attributes to God concerning the Messiah.
Acts 13:35-37Peter (or Paul, quoting Peter's sermon) reiterates this promise, explicitly stating that Jesus 'whom God raised from the dead did not see corruption' and then links it to David's body seeing corruption.
barnesActs 2:27: "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Thou wilt not leave my soul - The word "soul," with us, means "the thinking, the immortal part of man," and is applied to it whether existing in connection with the body or separate from it. The Hebrew word translated "soul" here, נפשׁ nephesh, however, may mean "spirit, mind, life," and may denote here nothing more than "me" or "myself." It means, properly, "breath"; then "life…
meyerActs 2:27: "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Acts 2:27 . What now the Psalmist further says according to the historical sense: For Thou wilt not leave my soul to Hades ( i.e. Thou wilt not suffer me to die in my present life-peril), and wilt not give Thy Holy One (according to the Ketîbh of the original: Thy holy ones , the plural of category, comp. Hupfeld in loc. ) to see corruption —is by Peter, as spoken εἰς Χριστόν , t…
The original Hebrew for "Holy One" here carries a sense of deep affection and devotion, not just holiness. This subtle emphasis highlights that God's promise wasn't just about preserving something pure, but about honoring someone He deeply loved. It underscores the personal aspect of God's unwavering commitment to His Son.
Peter is quoting Psalm 16, applying it to Jesus' resurrection. He's arguing that David, as a prophet, spoke of Christ's future resurrection, not his own. Peter emphasizes that David died and was buried, his tomb still visible, but Jesus' body was raised before it could decay.
Peter is quoting Psalm 16, applying it to Jesus' resurrection. He's arguing that David, as a prophet, spoke of Christ's future resurrection, not his own. Peter emphasizes that David died and was buried, his tomb still visible, but Jesus' body was raised before it could decay.
"For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption." — The original Hebrew for "Holy One" here carries a sense of deep affection and devotion, not just holiness. This subtle emphasis highlights that God's promise wasn't just about preserving something pu…
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Last reviewed October 2026