In Genesis, what did Noah place in the Ark to provide light?

In Genesis, Noah placed a window in the Ark to provide light.

Genesis 6:16 instructs Noah to make a window, or an opening, for the Ark. English translations vary in how they render the underlying Hebrew term. Some describe a window, while others use wording such as “opening” or “light.” The passage also mentions a door at the side and three decks within the vessel.

The text does not say that Noah used lamps, torches, or another artificial lighting system. The window is part of the Ark’s brief architectural description, alongside its dimensions and internal divisions. Its exact shape and position are not fully specified in the biblical account.

This detail is sometimes confused with the later scene in which Noah sends birds out of the Ark to test whether the floodwaters have receded. That episode concerns observation outside the vessel, whereas the window belongs to the Ark’s construction instructions. The canonical answer is therefore a window, with translation differences noted.