In Genesis, what were the stated proportions of Noah’s Ark?

The story behind the answer

In Genesis, Noah’s Ark is given proportions of 300 by 50 by 30 cubits.

Genesis 6:15 specifies the Ark’s length as 300 cubits, its width as 50 cubits, and its height as 30 cubits. Because a cubit was an ancient unit based roughly on the length of a forearm, its exact metric equivalent is uncertain. Estimates commonly place the Ark at roughly 135 metres long, but translations differ in their conversions.

The dimensions describe a very long, broad, box-like vessel rather than a conventional ship designed for navigation. The biblical account emphasizes survival during the flood, not speed or steering.

These numbers are sometimes incorrectly converted into one fixed modern measurement. The safest answer is the original biblical proportion, which remains stable even though the exact length of a cubit varied across ancient cultures.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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