Genesis 6:14 kjv
Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
Genesis 6:14 nkjv
Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.
Genesis 6:14 niv
So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.
Genesis 6:14 esv
Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
Genesis 6:14 nlt
"Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.
Genesis 6 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:9 | These are the generations of Noah...Noah was a righteous man. | Noah's character enabling God's choice. |
| Gen 6:13 | And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come... | Immediate context: reason for the ark. |
| Gen 6:18 | But with thee will I establish my covenant... | Covenant linked to the ark's purpose. |
| Gen 6:22 | Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him... | Noah's obedience to God's commands. |
| Gen 7:1 | Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous. | God's invitation and justification. |
| Gen 7:5 | And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. | Reiteration of Noah's complete obedience. |
| Gen 7:23 | And every living substance was destroyed...and Noah only remained. | Ark as sole means of preservation. |
| Gen 9:11-16 | And I will establish my covenant with you...a token of a covenant. | Covenant confirmed post-flood (rainbow). |
| Exod 2:3 | ...she took for him an ark of bulrushes...daubed it with pitch. | Moses' ark, same Hebrew word 'tevah', same covering. |
| Lev 16:16 | ...make atonement (kaphar) for the holy place... | Semantic root of 'pitch' related to 'atonement'/'covering'. |
| 1 Chr 28:19 | All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing... | Divine instruction for construction (Tabernacle/Temple). |
| Isa 28:16 | Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone...who believes will not be in haste. | Prophetic type: Christ as the sure foundation/salvation. |
| Ezek 14:14 | Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it... | Noah counted among the righteous intercessors. |
| Matt 24:37-39 | But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. | Parallel between Noah's flood and Christ's second coming judgment. |
| Luke 17:26-27 | As it was in the days of Noah...so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. | Emphasizes sudden judgment, needing a means of escape. |
| Heb 8:5 | ...who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things... | Divine blueprint for earthly structures. |
| Heb 11:7 | By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen yet...prepared an ark to the saving of his house. | Noah's faith actualized through obedience. |
| 1 Pet 3:20-21 | ...in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water...baptism does now save you. | Ark as a biblical type foreshadowing Christian baptism/salvation. |
| 2 Pet 2:5 | And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person...a preacher of righteousness. | Noah as an example of righteous preservation from judgment. |
| Acts 4:12 | Neither is there salvation in any other...there is none other name. | Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation from judgment. |
| John 14:6 | Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. | Jesus as the way to escape ultimate judgment. |
| Col 1:13 | Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness... | Christ's redemptive work as a divine rescue. |
Genesis 6 verses
Genesis 6 14 Meaning
Genesis 6:14 is a direct divine command to Noah, providing specific architectural instructions for building the ark. It details the material (gopher wood), internal structure (rooms), and waterproofing method (pitch within and without). This instruction is central to God's plan for preserving humanity and animal life from the impending flood, signifying God's precise foresight and active provision for salvation amidst His judgment on a corrupt world.Genesis 6 14 Context
Genesis chapter 6 opens with God observing the extreme wickedness of humanity, describing their thoughts as "only evil continually" (Gen 6:5). God grieved that He had made humankind and decided to "blot out man... from the face of the earth" (Gen 6:7). Amidst this profound corruption and divine sorrow, Noah alone "found favor in the eyes of the LORD" (Gen 6:8). The immediate preceding verses highlight Noah's unique righteousness and blamelessness in his generation (Gen 6:9). God's command in Genesis 6:14, therefore, is not merely a practical building instruction but an act of sovereign grace and an execution of His justice. The ark serves as the sole instrument of salvation, demonstrating God's provision for a remnant even while He brings judgment upon the sinful world.Genesis 6 14 Word analysis
- Make (עֲשֵׂה -
aseh): An imperative verb, directly commanding Noah. This signifies God's direct, personal, and urgent instruction, revealing His divine initiative and authority in saving a remnant. - Thee (לְךָ -
leka): Singular, second person pronoun. Emphasizes the personal nature of the command to Noah. This task is specifically given to him. - An ark (תֵּבָה -
tevah): This Hebrew word is unique in the Old Testament, used only for Noah's Ark (Gen 6-9) and Moses' basket (Exod 2:3-5). It is not a common word for 'boat' (which would be אֳנִיָּה -oniyah). This specific term implies a divinely purposed, sealed, and protected vessel, rather than a mere seafaring ship. It points to a means of miraculous preservation chosen by God. - Gopher wood (עֲצֵי גֹפֶר -
atsei gopher): The specific type of wood is unique to this verse, its exact identification is uncertain. Scholars suggest possibilities like cypress, cedar, or laminated wood. The specificity highlights divine foresight in selecting the most suitable, durable, and perhaps naturally waterproof material for such a massive, long-term endeavor. It underscores God's precise and expert design. - Rooms (קִנִּים -
qinnim): Literally means "nests" or "compartments." This detail signifies ordered space within the ark, allowing for the organized housing of different creatures and their provisions. It speaks to the planned structure necessary for survival and demonstrates God's consideration for every detail of His creation's preservation. - Shalt thou make in the ark: Reinforces Noah's active role and responsibility in executing God's specific architectural plans for the vessel.
- And shalt pitch it (וְכָפַרְתָּ -
ve-khafarta): From the root כָּפַר (kaphar), meaning "to cover" or "to atone." This word is significant because it is the same root from which the concept of atonement (Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur) is derived. While literally meaning "to seal with pitch," it carries a rich theological undertone, suggesting a "covering" for protection and salvation, paralleling the spiritual covering (atonement) for sin. The physical act of pitching serves as a symbolic foreshadowing of spiritual redemption. - Within and without (מִבַּיִת וּמִחוּץ -
mibbayit u-michutz): Indicates complete and thorough waterproofing, ensuring no entry of the destructive waters from any direction. It signifies total divine protection and impermeability from judgment, implying no exposed weaknesses. - With pitch (בַּכֹּפֶר -
ba-kofer): Referring to the literal bitumen or tar. This material was commonly used in the ancient Near East for waterproofing and sealing, known for its effectiveness. Its connection to the verbkaphar("pitch/cover") ties the material directly to the act of protection and, metaphorically, to atonement.
Genesis 6 14 Bonus section
- Polemics against Mesopotamian flood narratives: Unlike the haphazard or whimsically decided-upon flood accounts in myths like the Epic of Gilgamesh, where a god (Ea) secretly reveals plans to Utnapishtim out of a quarrel among deities, the God of Genesis sovereignly and openly communicates His righteous judgment and precise instructions to Noah. The biblical God is not capricious but holy and orderly, orchestrating a plan of salvation with detailed blueprints.
- The Ark as a Microcosm of Creation: By saving various creatures and Noah's family, the ark essentially preserved the pre-Flood creation, allowing for a renewed world. The instruction for "rooms" and detailed construction implies not just survival but an ordered re-beginning.
- Emphasis on Obedience: This verse, though short, implies immense faith and obedience on Noah's part. To construct such a massive, unprecedented vessel solely on a divine word, especially concerning "things not seen as yet" (Heb 11:7), highlights a central theme in Genesis: faithfulness to God's direct commands.