Genesis says Noah built an ark for the flood story.
The Hebrew word used in Genesis is tebah, commonly translated into English as “ark.” In this context, it means a large container or vessel designed to preserve Noah, his family, and selected animals from the flood. The text does not describe the vessel as a conventional ship intended for navigation or trade.
This detail creates an important distinction between the biblical Ark and later artistic portrayals. Genesis gives dimensions, construction material, internal divisions, and a coating for waterproofing, but it does not describe a sail, mast, rudder, or steering system. The story presents the Ark primarily as a protective floating structure. The word “ark” is also used in some English Bible translations for the basket that carried the infant Moses, although the two narratives are separate.