In Genesis, what was Noah’s Ark’s stated length?

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In Genesis, Noah’s Ark’s stated length was 300 cubits.

Genesis 6:15 gives the Ark three dimensions: 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. The dimensions are presented as divine instructions to Noah, rather than as measurements recorded by a later shipbuilder. The text does not define the exact length of the cubit used.

A cubit was traditionally related to the length of a forearm, but ancient cubits varied between cultures and periods. As a result, converting 300 cubits into metres or feet produces estimates rather than one universally certain figure. The length-to-width proportion, however, is consistently described as 6 to 1.

This measurement is often compared with modern ships, but the biblical account presents the Ark as a vessel designed for survival during the Flood, not for ordinary sailing or speed. Its dimensions are one of the clearest numerical details in the story.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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