Noah's Use of Gopher Wood in Ark Construction
Noah was commanded by God to construct an ark from "gopher wood" (Genesis 6:14) [3]. This instruction is unique in the biblical text, as "gopher wood" is mentioned only in this passage [1]. The ark itself was designed as an oblong floating structure, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad, and 30 cubits high, with three stories, a door, and a window [2].
The precise identification of "gopher wood" has been a subject of discussion among scholars and commentators across various traditions. The Septuagint (LXX) translates the term as "squared beams," while the Vulgate renders it as "planed wood" [1]. Other interpretations have suggested "pine" or "cedar" [1]. However, a significant body of opinion, including Easton's Bible Dictionary, favors the cypress tree, noting its abundance in regions like Chaldea and Armenia and its suitability for construction due to its durability [1, 8].
Rabbinic tradition, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud, offers alternative identifications. Rav Adda, in the school of Rabbi Sheila, suggested it was wood from the mavliga tree, while others proposed the willow (gulamish) tree [6]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that ancient Rabbis and Targums understood "gopher wood" to mean cedar wood, while other suggestions included box, pine, or fir [4]. Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, acknowledges the disagreement among Jewish interpreters regarding the specific type of wood, listing cedar, fir, and pine as possibilities [5].
The choice of wood was crucial for the ark's purpose: to preserve Noah, his family, and various animals from the impending deluge [2]. The ark was to be coated with pitch both inside and out, ensuring it was watertight [3, 8]. This detail highlights the practical considerations for a vessel intended to float for an extended period [8].
Beyond the material, the construction of the ark itself served as a profound test of Noah's faith and obedience [5]. Noah, described as a just man and perfect in his generation, was commanded by God to undertake this monumental task [7]. His diligence in building the ark is seen as a direct result of his faith in God's warning about the coming flood [9]. The narrative emphasizes that Noah's obedience, coupled with fear and confidence, was central to his preservation [10]. The ark, in patristic thought, particularly by Augustine, is understood as a figure for Christ and the Church, symbolizing salvation from destruction [7].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gopher — A tree from the wood of which Noah was directed to build the ark (Gen. 6:14). It is mentioned only there. The LXX. render this word by "squared beams," and the Vulgate by "planed wood." Other versions have rendered it "pine" and "cedar;" but the weight of authority is in favour of understanding by it the cypress tree, which grows abundantly in Chaldea and Armenia.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ark — Noah's ark, a building of gopher-wood, and covered with pitch, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad, and 30 cubits high (Gen. 6:14-16); an oblong floating house of three stories, with a door in the side and a window in the roof. It was 100 years in building (Gen. 5:32; 7:6). It was intended to preserve certain persons and animals from the deluge which God was about to bring over the earth. It contained eight persons (Gen. 7:13; 2 Pet. 2:5), and of all "clean" animals seven pairs, and of "unclean" one pair, and of birds seven pairs of each sort (Gen. 7:2, 3). It was”
- Genesis “Genesis 6:14 (BSB) — Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out.”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 6:12: Make thee an ark of Gopher wood,.... It is not called a ship, for it was not made for sailing to any distant parts, but an ark or chest, being like one, flat bottomed, and ridged and sloping upwards, and was made for floating on the waters for a little way. So Lucian (c), and other Heathen writers, call it "an ark" or "chest": this was made of "Gopher wood", which all the Targums, and the more ancient Rabbins, understand of cedar wood; some the box tree, as the Arabic version; others, the pine; others, fir; the Mahometans say it was the Indian plane tree; and others,”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 10.22: Make thee an ark of gopher wood . Here follows the command to build the ark, in which God wonderfully proved the faith and obedience of his servant. Concerning its structure, there is no reason why we should anxiously inquire, except so far as our own edification is concerned. First, the Jews are not agreed among themselves respecting the kind of wood of which it was made. Some explain the word gopher to be the cedar; others, the fir-tree; others, the pine. They differ also respecting the stories; because many think that the sink”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 108b.8: With regard to the verse: “Make you an ark of gopher wood” (Genesis 6:14), the Gemara asks: What is gopher wood? Rav Adda says that they say in the school of Rabbi Sheila: This is wood from the mavliga tree; and some say that it is wood from the willow [ gulamish ] tree.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 26.--THAT THE ARK WHICH NOAH WAS (part 1): ORDERED TO MAKE FIGURES IN EVERY RESPECT CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. Moreover, inasmuch as God commanded Noah, a just man, and, as the truthful Scripture says, a man perfect in his generation,--not indeed with the perfection of the citizens of the city of God in that immortal condition in which they equal the angels, but in so far as they can be perfect in their sojourn in this world,--inasmuch as God commanded him, I say, to make an ark, in which he might be rescued from the destruction of t”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 6:14: Make thee an ark--ark, a hollow chest (Exo 2:3). gopher wood--probably cypress, remarkable for its durability and abounding on the Armenian mountains. rooms--cabins or small cells. pitch it within and without--mineral pitch, asphalt, naphtha, or some bituminous substance, which, when smeared over and become hardened, would make it perfectly watertight.”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 6:22: Noah's care and diligence in building the ark may be considered, 1. As an effect of his faith in the word of God. God had told him he would shortly drown the world; he believed it, feared the threatened deluge, and, in that fear, prepared the ark. Note, We ought to mix faith with the revelation God has made of his wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men; the threatenings of the word are not false alarms. Much might have been objected against the credibility of this warning given to Noah. "Who could believe that the wise God, who made the world, s”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 10.20: Lord,’ ( Zechariah 2:13 .) 13. And God said unto Noah . Here Moses begins to relate how Noah would be preserved. And first, he says, that the counsel of God respecting the destruction of the world was revealed to him. Secondly, that the command to build the ark was given. Thirdly, that safety was promised him, if, in obedience to God, he would take refuge in the ark. These chief points are to be distinctly noted; even as the Apostle, when he proclaims the faith of Noah, joins fear and obedience with confidence, ( Hebrews 11:7 .) ”