In Genesis, pitch is the waterproof coating used on Noah’s Ark.
Genesis 6:14 tells Noah to make the Ark from gopher wood and coat it with pitch inside and outside. The coating would seal the vessel’s surface against water, at least within the narrative’s construction instructions.
The underlying Hebrew word is related to bitumen or a sealing substance, and translations commonly use “pitch.” The text does not identify a modern chemical formula or specify how the material was processed. Consequently, explanations that insist on one exact historical product go beyond what Genesis states.
This detail is distinct from the Ark’s building material. Gopher wood describes the substance from which the vessel is made, while pitch describes the protective coating. The verse also mentions rooms or compartments, showing that the instructions concern both the Ark’s structure and its ability to contain people, animals, and supplies.