In Genesis, what length was Noah’s Ark said to be?
Answer
300 cubits
Answer
300 cubits
In Genesis, Noah’s Ark was said to be 300 cubits long.
Genesis 6:15 gives the ark’s three principal dimensions as 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in width, and 30 cubits in height. A cubit was an ancient unit generally based on the distance from an adult’s elbow to the end of the hand, so its exact metric value varied across cultures and periods. A common estimate places the biblical cubit at about 45 centimetres, which would make the ark roughly 135 metres long.
The text does not provide a modern engineering blueprint or identify the precise cubit used. For that reason, modern conversions are estimates rather than exact measurements. The dimensions are nevertheless distinctive because they describe a very long, rectangular vessel rather than a conventional ship designed for speed or navigation.
The ark’s proportions have attracted comparisons with modern barges and ship models. Genesis emphasizes its construction from wood, its coating with pitch, and its division into compartments. These details belong to the biblical narrative and should not be confused with evidence for a surviving physical vessel.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026