In the Genesis Ark story, Noah was instructed to coat the Ark with pitch to make it watertight.
Genesis 6:14 tells Noah to cover the ark inside and outside with pitch. The instruction follows the description of the ark’s wooden construction and internal compartments. Pitch is a waterproofing substance made from a thick, tar-like material, and ancient builders used related substances to seal boats and containers.
The Hebrew wording is connected with the idea of covering or coating. English translations commonly use “pitch,” though the precise ancient substance and preparation are not fully established. The instruction’s practical purpose is clear: the vessel needed a sealed surface capable of keeping water out.
Pitch is sometimes confused with gopher wood because both are mentioned in the same construction instruction. They have different roles: gopher wood is the stated building material, while pitch is the coating applied to the inside and outside of the ark.