What is the Hebrew name traditionally translated as Noah's Ark in the Bible?

The Hebrew name traditionally translated as Noah's Ark is Tevat Noach.

In Hebrew, “tevat Noach” means “Noah's vessel” or “Noah's box,” with teva referring to the container described in Genesis. The phrase is commonly used in Jewish discussion and modern Hebrew, while the English word “ark” comes through older translation traditions.

The same Hebrew noun teva is used for the basket in which the infant Moses is placed in Exodus. This shared vocabulary has led interpreters to note a literary connection: both containers preserve a chosen child from threatening waters.

The biblical Hebrew term does not necessarily evoke a conventional sailing ship. Genesis focuses on the vessel's dimensions, compartments, coating, and opening rather than sails, steering equipment, or a mast. “Tevat Noach” therefore captures the original wording more closely than a modern ship name would.