According to the biblical book of Genesis, the earth had become corrupt and filled with violence during the time of the patriarch Noah. Amid the decay, one man, Noah, was described as righteous and blameless. The text notes that unlike his contemporaries, 'Noah walked with God.' Because of this, God spoke directly to him with a terrible warning, declaring his intention to 'make an end of all flesh' with a great flood. But Noah and his family—his wife, his three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives—would be spared. Their survival depended on completing a monumental task. He was commanded to build a massive wooden vessel, known as an ark, following precise divine specifications.
Noah's Ark and the Great Flood
The biblical story of Noah, who built a 300-cubit-long ark to save his family and the world's animals from a divinely sent flood.
Chapter 1
A World to Be Washed Clean
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Frequently Asked Questions
How big was Noah's ark according to the Bible?
The book of Genesis specifies the ark's dimensions as 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. This is roughly equivalent to 137 meters by 23 meters by 14 meters. It was built with three internal decks to house all the occupants.
What is the 'covenant of the rainbow'?
After the flood, God established a covenant, or promise, with Noah and all living creatures. God pledged to never again destroy the earth with a flood. The rainbow was designated as the visible sign, or 'token,' of this everlasting promise.
Are there other ancient stories similar to Noah's Ark?
Yes, the much older Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh features a hero named Utnapishtim who survives a global flood. He builds a boat, saves his family and animals, sends out birds to find land, and offers a sacrifice upon landing on a mountain.
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