In Genesis, pitch was placed on the Ark’s exterior and interior to make it watertight.
Genesis 6:14 tells Noah to cover the Ark with pitch inside and outside. Pitch is a thick, waterproofing substance traditionally made from tar or bitumen, although the precise ancient material intended by the Hebrew term is not certain. The instruction makes practical sense for a wooden vessel exposed to prolonged water.
This detail is sometimes confused with the Ark’s building material. Genesis names gopher wood for construction and pitch for sealing. They serve different purposes: wood forms the structure, while pitch helps close gaps and prevent water from entering.
The passage does not give a recipe, quantity, or application method for the pitch. It also does not describe a mast, rudder, sails, or steering system. Those omissions support the narrative’s presentation of the Ark as a protective container rather than a ship intended for navigation under human control.