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 toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
figure -- This is the Greek term antitupon, which is a compound of anti (i.e. as over against or corresponding to) and tupos (an image or copy). This is the only example of the adjective in the NT, but the noun is in Hebrews 9:24. This phrase shows the symbolic, typological nature of Peter’s reference. - Utley