Bible Dictionary: Ark of Noah

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Ark of Noah

ARK OF NOAH

ark, no'-a: A structure built by Noah at the command of God to preserve from the Flood a remnant of the human race and of the animals associated with man. It was constructed of "gopher wood" (Genesis 6:14)-very likely the cypress used extensively by the Phoenicians for ship-building. It was divided into rooms or nests, and was three stories high, pitched within and without with bitumen or "asphalt," of which there are extensive deposits at Hit, in the Euphrates valley, a little above Babylon. It was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad, 30 cubits high, which according to Petrie's estimate of a cubit as 22.5 inches would make it to be 562 1/2 ft. long, 93 2/3 ft. wide, 56 1/4 ft. deep, which are natural proportions of a ship of that size. The dimensions of the "Great Eastern," built in 1858, were 692 ft. long, 83 ft. broad, 58 ft. deep; those of the "Celtic" built in 1901 are 700 ft. long, 75 ft. wide, 49 1/3 ft. deep. It is extremely improbable that such reasonable dimensions should have been assigned to the Ark except they were based on fact. Unrestrained tradition would have been sure to distort the proportions, as is shown by what actually occurred in other accounts of the Ark. The cuneiform tablets represent it as six stories high, with the length, width, and depth, each as 140 cubits (262 ft.), and having a mast on top of all, and a pilot to guide the impossible craft (see Deluge Tablet, ll.22, 23, 38-41). Berosus, the Greek historian, represents it to have been five stadia (3,000 ft.) long and two stadia (1,200 ft.) broad, while Origen, in order to confound Celsus (Against Celsus 4.41) gave the figures an interpretation which made the Ark 25 miles long and 3/4 of a mile wide.

It is needless to speculate upon the capacity of the Ark for holding absolutely all the species of animals found in the world, together with the food necessary for them, since we are only required to provide for such animals as were native to the area to which the remnants of the human race living at that time were limited, and which (see DELUGE OF NOAH) may not have been large. But calculations show that the structure described contained a space of about 3,500,000 cubic feet, and that after storing food enough to support several thousand pairs of animals, of the average size, on an ocean voyage of a year, there would remain more than 50 cubic feet of space for each pair.

No mention is made in the Bible of a pilot for the Ark, but it seems to have been left to float as a derelict upon the waters. For that purpose its form and dimensions were perfect, as was long ago demonstrated by the celebrated navigator, Sir Walter Raleigh, who notes it had "a flat bottom, and was not raised in form of a ship, with a sharpness forward, to cut the waves for the better speed"-a construction which secured the maximum of storage capacity and made a vessel which would ride steadily upon the water. Numerous vessels after the pattern of the Ark, but of smaller dimensions, have been made in Holland and Denmark and proved admirably adapted for freightage where speed was not of the first importance. They would hold one-third more lading than other vessels, and would require no more hands to work them. The gradual rise and subsidence of the water, each continuing for six months, and their movement inland, render the survival of such a structure by no means unreasonable. According to Genesis 6:3 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5, warning of the Flood was given 120 years beforehand, and during that time Noah, while preparing the Ark, became a preacher of righteousness. For evidence that there was a gradual destruction of the race previous to the Flood, see DELUGE OF NOAH.

George Frederick Wright

ATS Bible Dictionary

Ark of Noah

The vessel in which the family of Noah was preserved during the deluge, when all the rest of our race perished for their sins. The ark is called in Hebrew, in the Septuagint, and by Josephus, a chest; and the same word is used in the history of the infant Moses, Exodus 2:3. So far as this name affords any evidence, it goes to show that the ark of Noah was not a regular sailing-vessel, but merely intended to float at large guard it as a large, oblong, floating house, with a roof either flat or only slightly inclined. It was constructed with three stories, and had a door in the side. There is no mention of windows in the side, but "above," probably in the roof, where Noah was commanded to make them of a cubit in height, Genesis 5:16 8:13.

The dimensions of the ark, taking the cubit as eighteen inches, were 450 feet in length, 75 in breadth and 45 in height. It was built of gopher-wood, and made water-proof with bitumen, and was no doubt large enough to accommodate the eight persons of Noah's family and the animals to be saved in it-namely, of all birds and clean beasts seven each, and of unclean beasts two each, male and female. Many questions have been raised, and discussed at great length by skeptics and others, respecting the form and dimensions of the ark; the number of animals saved in it-whether including all species then existing in the world, except such as live in water or lie dormant, or only the species living in the parts of world then peopled by man; and as to the possibility of their being all lodged in the ark, and their food during the year, etc. Some of these questions the Bible clearly settles. Others it is vain to discuss, since we have no means of deciding them. Certain it is, that while the Bible eulogizes the faith and obedience of Noah, it shows that his salvation was a miracle of Providence. It was by miracle that he was forewarned, and directed to prepare for the flood; and the same miraculous power accomplished all that Noah was unable to so in designing, building, and filling the ark, and preserving and guiding it through the deluge. It has been commonly supposed that the warning came to Noah 120 years before the flood. Compare Genesis 5:32 with Genesis 7:6, and Genesis 6:3 with 1 Peter 3:20. Traditions of the ark are found in most nations all over the globe. See DELUGE.

Greek

2787. kibotos -- a wooden box
... Phonetic Spelling: (kib-o-tos') Short Definition: an ark Definition: (properly:
a wooden box, hence) the Ark, in which Noah sailed; the Ark of the Covenant. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2787.htm - 6k

Library

The Story of Noah and the Ark
... After Noah had waited for it awhile, he sent out a dove; but the dove could not
find any place to rest, so it flew back to the ark, and Noah took it into the ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of noah and.htm

That the Ark which Noah was Ordered to Make Figures in Every ...
... Book XV. Chapter 26."That the Ark Which Noah Was Ordered to Make Figures
In Every Respect Christ and the Church. Moreover, inasmuch ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 26 that the ark which.htm

Epistle Lxxv. To Magnus, on Baptizing the Novatians, and those who ...
... Peter also, showing this, set forth that the Church is one, and that only they who
are in the Church can be baptized; and said, "In the ark of Noah, few, that ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxxv to magnus on.htm

Noah and the Great Flood
... The rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and Jehovah shut Noah
in the ark. ... Noah only was left and they who were with him in the ark. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/noah and the great flood.htm

The Flood.
... Noah built the ark as God commanded. ... A year afterwards, when the waters were
dried up, Noah, and all that had been with him, left the ark. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the flood.htm

Concerning the Flood; and after what Manner Noah was Saved in an ...
... CHAPTER 3. Concerning The Flood; And After What Manner Noah Was Saved In An Ark,
With His Kindred, And Afterwards Dwelt In The Plain Of Shinar. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 concerning the flood.htm

'Clear Shining after Rain'
... 3. But Noah did not leave the ark, though 'the earth was dry.' God had
'shut him in,' and it must be God who brings him out. We ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/clear shining after rain.htm

Here Beginneth the History of Noah
... Then in the year of Noah six hundred and one, the first day of the month, Noah opened
the covering of the ark and saw that the earth was dry, but he durst not ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here beginneth the history of.htm

"Come Thou and all Thy House into the Ark. "
... old world reels. The storm bursts upon them, and that old ark of Noah's
would have been worth more than the whole world to them. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/the overcoming life/come thou and all thy.htm

Noah's Justice
... will cause it to rain upon the earth, and every living substance that I have made
will I destroy from off the earth." And Noah entered into the ark, and seven ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon x noahs justice.htm

Subtopics

Ark of the Covenant was Called The: Ark of God

Ark of the Covenant was Called The: Ark of God's Strength

Ark of the Covenant was Called The: Ark of the Covenant of the Lord

Ark of the Covenant was Called The: Ark of the Testimony

Ark of the Covenant was Carried by Priests of Levites Alone