What name does Genesis give the vessel Noah built?

Genesis calls the vessel Noah built the ark.

The English word “ark” comes through Latin arca, meaning a chest or box. The Hebrew word used in the Flood story is tebah, which can mean a box, chest, or vessel. The same Hebrew word is used for the basket in which the infant Moses is placed in Exodus, creating a linguistic link between two stories of preservation through dangerous waters.

The ark is not called a ship in Genesis. It has rooms, a door, and a window, and its dimensions are specified, but the text does not describe conventional sailing equipment. Its primary role is to preserve Noah’s household, selected animals, and enough food during the Flood.

The term is also distinct from the Ark of the Covenant. Noah’s ark is a huge vessel in Genesis, while the Ark of the Covenant is a sacred chest described later in Exodus. Both are commonly called “arks” in English, but they are different objects in different biblical narratives.