In the Genesis story of Noah’s Ark, how many cubits long was the Ark?

In the Genesis story of Noah’s Ark, the Ark was 300 cubits long. Genesis 6:15 gives its dimensions as 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in width, and 30 cubits in height.

A cubit was an ancient length based broadly on the distance from an elbow to a fingertip. Its exact value varied by culture and period, so converting the Ark’s dimensions into modern units is approximate. Using a common estimate of about 45 centimeters, the length would be roughly 135 meters.

The dimensions describe a long, box-like vessel rather than a ship designed for speed or navigation. Genesis emphasizes that the Ark was built to preserve life during the Flood, not to travel to a particular destination. Modern illustrations often give it a more ship-like shape than the text specifies.

The same passage gives the Ark three decks and an opening near the top. These details are distinct from later artistic reconstructions and engineering interpretations.