In the Book of Genesis, Noah builds the ark to survive the great flood.
Genesis presents Noah as a righteous man chosen by God to preserve human and animal life from a catastrophic flood. He is instructed to build a large vessel, bring his family aboard, and take representatives of the animals with him.
The name Noah comes from the Hebrew Bible, where he is the central human figure in the flood narrative. After the waters recede, Noah leaves the ark and makes a covenant with God. The story is followed by the account of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Noah is also important in Islam, where Nuh is regarded as a prophet. The Islamic account shares the flood theme but differs in several details from Genesis, including the location where the vessel comes to rest. Noah’s Ark is therefore a subject found in both Jewish and Christian scripture and in Islamic tradition, although the narratives are not identical.