In Genesis, pitch covered Noah’s Ark to make it waterproof.
Genesis 6:14 tells Noah to coat the ark with pitch inside and outside. Pitch is a sticky, waterproofing substance historically made from tar, bitumen, resin, or related materials. It could seal gaps and protect wood from water, making it a practical material for a large wooden vessel.
The Hebrew wording is connected with the idea of covering or coating. Some translations use “bitumen” or “tar,” while others retain “pitch.” These terms point to the waterproofing function rather than a single securely identified chemical recipe.
Pitch is different from gopher wood, the material named for the ark’s structure. Genesis gives both instructions: use gopher wood to build the vessel, then cover it with pitch inside and outside. Confusing those two details produces an answer that describes the hull material rather than its sealant.