Genesis 6:14
New International Version
So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.

New Living Translation
“Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.

English Standard Version
Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.

Berean Standard Bible
Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out.

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

New King James Version
Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.

New American Standard Bible
Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with compartments, and cover it inside and out with pitch.

NASB 1995
“Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.

NASB 1977
“Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.

Legacy Standard Bible
Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and you shall cover it inside and out with pitch.

Amplified Bible
Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make in it rooms (stalls, pens, coops, nests, cages, compartments) and coat it inside and out with pitch (bitumen).

Christian Standard Bible
“Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside.

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

Contemporary English Version
Get some good lumber and build a boat. Put rooms in it and cover it with tar inside and out.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Make yourself a ship of cypress wood. Make rooms in the ship and coat it inside and out with tar.

Good News Translation
Build a boat for yourself out of good timber; make rooms in it and cover it with tar inside and out.

International Standard Version
So make yourself an ark out of cedar, constructing compartments in it, and cover it inside and out with tar.

Majority Standard Bible
Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out.

NET Bible
Make for yourself an ark of cypress wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and out.

New Heart English Bible
Make a box-shaped vessel of gopher wood. You are to make rooms in the vessel, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.

Webster's Bible Translation
Make thee an ark of gopher-wood: rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

World English Bible
Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Make an ark of gopher-wood for yourself; you make rooms within the Ark, and you have covered it from inside and from outside with pitch;

Young's Literal Translation
'Make for thyself an ark of gopher-wood; rooms dost thou make with the ark, and thou hast covered it within and without with cypress;

Smith's Literal Translation
Make to thee a box of pitch wood; nests shalt thou make in the ark, and cover it from within and from without with pitch.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Make thee an ark of timber planks: thou shalt make little rooms in the ark, and thou shalt pitch it within and without.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Make yourself an ark from smoothed wood. You shall make little dwelling places in the ark, and you shall smear pitch on the interior and exterior.

New American Bible
Make yourself an ark of gopherwood, equip the ark with various compartments, and cover it inside and out with pitch.

New Revised Standard Version
Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and daub it without and within with pitch.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Make for you an ark of the wood of acacia box wood; make it stories for the ark and smear it from outside and from inside with pitch.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Make thee an ark of gopher wood; with rooms shalt thou make the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Make therefore for thyself an ark of square timber; thou shalt make the ark in compartments, and thou shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Noah Builds the Ark
13Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth. 14Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.…

Cross References
Exodus 2:3
But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

1 Peter 3:20
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

Matthew 24:37-39
As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. / For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Luke 17:26-27
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: / People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Isaiah 54:9
“For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.

2 Peter 2:5
if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;

Job 22:15-17
Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod? / They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood. / They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’

Ezekiel 14:14
then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 14:20
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.

1 Chronicles 1:4
The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Isaiah 54:9
“For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.

2 Peter 3:6
through which the world of that time perished in the flood.

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

Psalm 29:10
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.


Treasury of Scripture

Make you an ark of gopher wood; rooms shall you make in the ark, and shall pitch it within and without with pitch.

A.

Matthew 24:38
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Luke 17:27
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

1 Peter 3:20
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

rooms.

Exodus 2:3
And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.

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Ark Cells Coat Cover Cypress Inside Outside Pitch Rooms Safe Seal Ship Thyself Water Within Wood
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Ark Cells Coat Cover Cypress Inside Outside Pitch Rooms Safe Seal Ship Thyself Water Within Wood
Genesis 6
1. The wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath.
8. Noah finds grace.
9. His family line
14. The order, form, dimensions, and building of the ark.














Make for yourself
The phrase "make for yourself" indicates a personal responsibility and divine command given directly to Noah. In Hebrew, the word "עשה" (asah) is used, which means to do, make, or accomplish. This command signifies God's direct involvement in human affairs, emphasizing the personal relationship between God and Noah. It highlights the importance of obedience and action in faith, as Noah is tasked with a monumental project that requires trust in God's plan.

an ark
The term "ark" comes from the Hebrew word "תבה" (tebah), which is used here and in the account of Moses' basket. It signifies a vessel of salvation and preservation. The ark is a symbol of God's provision and protection amidst judgment. It foreshadows the salvation offered through Christ, as the ark was the means by which Noah and his family were saved from the flood, just as Christ is the means of salvation from sin.

of gopher wood
The exact nature of "gopher wood" is uncertain, as this is the only occurrence of the term in the Bible. Some scholars suggest it could refer to a type of cypress or cedar, known for their durability and resistance to decay. The choice of wood underscores the need for a strong and lasting structure, reflecting the enduring nature of God's covenant and the reliability of His promises.

make rooms in the ark
The instruction to "make rooms" indicates the need for order and preparation within the ark. The Hebrew word "קנים" (qanim) suggests compartments or nests, implying a place of safety and organization. This reflects God's attention to detail and care for His creation, ensuring that every creature has a place within His plan. It also symbolizes the church, where believers find their place and purpose in the body of Christ.

and coat it with pitch
The use of "pitch" (Hebrew: "כפר" - kopher) is significant, as it is related to the word for atonement or covering. This coating provided waterproofing, ensuring the ark's ability to withstand the floodwaters. Spiritually, it represents the covering of sin through atonement, pointing to the sacrificial work of Christ, who covers and protects believers from the judgment of sin.

inside and out
The thoroughness of coating the ark "inside and out" emphasizes complete protection and security. It signifies the comprehensive nature of God's salvation, which covers every aspect of a believer's life. This dual coating ensures that the ark is fully prepared for the coming deluge, just as believers are fully covered by the righteousness of Christ, safeguarding them from spiritual peril.

(14) Make thee an ark.--Tebah, a word so archaic that scholars neither know its derivation, nor even to what language it belongs. It is certain, however, that it was an oblong box, not capable of sailing, but intended merely to float. In the Chaldean account of the deluge, the language everywhere is that of a maritime people: the history in Genesis is as plainly the work of a people living inland.

Of gopher wood.--Heb., trees (or beams) of gopher This is also a word which occurs nowhere else, but means the cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), a tall, upright evergreen tree, of great durability, and anciently much valued for shipbuilding.

Rooms.--Literally, nests, small cells or cabins, arranged in three tiers, so that the interlacing of the timbers might aid in holding the whole structure together.

Pitch.--That is, natural bitumen. The ark therefore must have been built in some country where this natural product is easily obtainable, as in Assyria.

Verse 14. - Make thee an ark. תֵּבַת, constr. of תֵּבָה, etymology unknown (Gesenius); of Shemitic origin, from תָּבָה, to be hollow (Furst); of Egyptian derivation, a boat being called tept (Keil, Kalisch, Knobel); from the Sanskrit pota, a pot or boat (Bohlen); "a peculiar archaic term for a very unusual thing, like מַבּוּל, the term for the Flood itself" (T. Lewis); translated κιβωτός θίβη (LXX.), area (Vulgate), λάρναξ (Nicolas Damaseenus), πλοῖον (Berosus); not a ship in the ordinary acceptation of the word, but a box or chest (cf. Exodus 2:3) capable of floating on the waters. "Similar vessels, generally, however, drawn by horses or men, were and are still used in some parts of Europe and Asia" (Kalisch). Of gopher wood. Literally, woods of gopher (גֹפֶר: ἅπαξ λεγ.., the root of which, like כפר, seams to signify to cover (Kalisch); ligna bituminata (Vulgate); pitch trees, resinous trees, such as are used in ship-building (Gesenius); most likely cypress, κυπάρισσος (Bochart, Celsius, Keil), which was used "in some parts of Asia exclusively as the material for ships, in Athens for coffins, and in Egypt for mummy cases" (Kaliseh). "It is said too that the gates of St. Peter's Church at Rome (made of this wood), which lasted from the time of Constantine to that of Eugene IV., 1. a 1100 years, had in that period suffered no decay" (Bush). Rooms - kinnim, nests, applied metaphorically to the chambers of the ark - shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. וְכָפַרְתָּ בַּכֹּפֶר: literally, shalt cover it with a covering. The substance to be employed was probably bitumen or asphalt (ἄσφαλτος, LXX.; bitumen, Vulgate). The root (cf. English, cover) signifies also to pardon sin, i.e. to cover them from God's sight (Psalm 65:3; Psalm 78:38; 2 Chronicles 30:18), and to make expiation for sin, i.e. to obtain covering for them (Genesis 32:20; Daniel 9:24); whence gopher is used for a ransom (Exodus 21:30; Exodus 30:12), and cap-poreth, the covering of the ark (Exodus 25:17), for the mercy-seat (ἱλαστήριον, LXX.; propitiatorium, Vulgate).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Make
עֲשֵׂ֤ה (‘ă·śêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

for yourself
לְךָ֙ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

an ark
תֵּבַ֣ת (tê·ḇaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8392: A box, chest

of gopher
גֹ֔פֶר (ḡō·p̄er)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1613: A kind of tree, wood, the cypress

wood;
עֲצֵי־ (‘ă·ṣê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

make
תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה (ta·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

rooms
קִנִּ֖ים (qin·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7064: A nest, the nestlings, a chamber, dwelling

in
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

the ark
הַתֵּבָ֑ה (hat·tê·ḇāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8392: A box, chest

and coat it with pitch
וְכָֽפַרְתָּ֥ (wə·ḵā·p̄ar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

inside
מִבַּ֥יִת (mib·ba·yiṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

and out.
וּמִח֖וּץ (ū·mi·ḥūṣ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2351: Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors


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OT Law: Genesis 6:14 Make a ship of gopher wood (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 6:13
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