Genesis says Noah used pitch to waterproof the Ark.
Genesis 6:14 instructs Noah to cover the Ark inside and outside with pitch. The material is described as a coating that would help seal the vessel against water, complementing the wooden structure and the Ark’s enclosed design.
The Hebrew word translated “pitch” is related to the idea of covering or atonement in some interpretations, though translation traditions differ. English versions may use terms such as bitumen or resin, depending on how translators understand the ancient material.
The passage does not provide a recipe, thickness, or exact geological source for the pitch. It also does not establish that the substance was identical to modern petroleum-derived products. The certain point is the text’s instruction to coat the Ark with a waterproofing substance called pitch.