In the Genesis Ark story, Noah is instructed to make the Ark from gopher wood.
Genesis 6:14 uses the Hebrew expression often transliterated as “gopher wood” or “gofer wood.” The text does not identify a confirmed modern tree species, so English translations generally preserve the unusual term rather than translating it as cedar, pine, or cypress. Its meaning may refer to a type of wood, a construction method, or a word whose original interpretation has been lost.
This uncertainty explains why proposed identifications vary. Some historical suggestions have linked the term with cypress or other durable conifers, but no identification is accepted as certain. “Gopher wood” is therefore the safest answer when the question follows the wording of Genesis.
The same verse adds that Noah should cover the Ark with pitch inside and outside. Together, the wood and waterproof coating form the basic construction instruction, alongside the dimensions, decks, compartments, door, and roof described in the next verse.