According to Genesis, what was the ark’s roof designed to have beneath it?

The story behind the answer

According to Genesis, Noah made a window for the ark beneath its roof. The instruction appears among the vessel’s construction details before the flood begins.

The precise design of this feature is debated because translations differ. Some versions describe a window, opening, or skylight, and the ancient Hebrew wording is not completely transparent to modern readers. Genesis later says Noah opened the window of the ark before releasing the raven and dove.

This feature is distinct from the ark’s door, which Genesis says God shut after Noah entered. The text also describes three decks and compartments inside the vessel. Because the biblical account is brief, it does not provide an engineering blueprint or settle exactly how large the roof opening was or how it was constructed.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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