In the Genesis story of Noah’s Ark, pitch coated the ark inside and out.
Genesis 6:14 tells Noah to cover the vessel with pitch, a waterproofing material. The instruction would have helped seal the wooden structure against water, although the biblical account does not describe the ark’s construction as a modern engineering project.
Pitch is a thick, waterproof substance traditionally produced from natural materials such as tar or resin. The Hebrew wording is related to the idea of covering or coating, and translations generally use “pitch.” It should not be confused with gopher wood, which is the material named for the ark’s frame.
The passage gives the ark three construction features: rooms, a door in its side, and a covering or roof. Artistic depictions often add many details not specified in Genesis, including exact rigging, windows, and internal layouts.