Noah's Ark

Illustration of Noah's Ark
Built to God's exact specifications, the ark carried Noah's family and every kind of land creature safely through the judgment of the flood.

At God's command, Noah built a massive vessel of gopher wood, coated with pitch inside and out, to preserve his family and two of every kind of animal through the great flood that would judge a corrupt world. Its precise dimensions - 300 by 50 by 30 cubits - and three decks reflect careful divine engineering meant to ensure it could weather the catastrophe and provide for its passengers across more than a year afloat. The ark stands throughout Scripture as a picture of God's judgment on sin alongside his gracious provision of salvation for those who trust and obey him, a typology the New Testament explicitly applies to baptism and Christ's saving work.

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Details

Significance
The means by which God preserved humanity and the animal kingdom through his judgment on a corrupt world, and a lasting biblical picture of salvation through faith and obedience.
Materials
Gopher wood, pitch (within and without)

Key Chapters

Genesis 6 The Wickedness of Man 4 min read

Key Passages

God Commands Noah to Build the Ark

Genesis 6:14-22

M14ake thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sonsโ€™ wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. 22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

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