How many windows does Genesis explicitly mention Noah making in the Ark?

The story behind the answer

Genesis explicitly mentions one window or opening that Noah made in the Ark.

Genesis 6:16 tells Noah to make a window, or an opening, for the ark and to finish it to a specified measure. English translations differ because the underlying Hebrew term and the phrase describing its construction are difficult to interpret precisely. Some translations use “window,” while others use “roof,” “opening,” or a related architectural expression.

The verse also states that the ark had a door in its side and three levels. It does not provide a detailed count of every possible opening, vent, or aperture. Consequently, the safest canonical answer is one explicitly mentioned window or opening.

Artists and modern reconstructions commonly add numerous windows to make the vessel appear practical and illuminated. Those additions may be reasonable design ideas, but they should not be mistaken for a precise biblical inventory of windows.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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