In the biblical account of Noah’s Ark, what material was the ark built from?

The biblical account of Noah’s Ark says it was built from gopher wood.

The phrase appears in Genesis 6:14, where God instructs Noah to make an ark from “gopher wood” and coat it with pitch inside and out. The Hebrew term is unique in the Bible, so its exact botanical meaning is uncertain. Many translations retain the transliteration “gopher wood” rather than identifying a known tree.

This uncertainty creates a common mix-up: cypress, cedar, and other timber types are proposed interpretations, but none is established as the definite answer in the biblical text. The ark’s construction instructions also include compartments, three decks, and a roof or opening.

The account does not describe the ark as a conventional ship designed for navigation. Its stated purpose was survival during the flood, and its dimensions are given in cubits rather than modern units. “Gopher wood” is therefore the safest canonical answer, while the species of tree remains unknown.