Which chapter of Genesis begins the biblical account of Noah’s Ark?

Genesis 6 begins the biblical account of Noah’s Ark. The chapter introduces the corruption and violence that precede the Flood, presents Noah as a righteous man, and records God’s command to build the vessel.

Genesis 6 also gives the Ark’s basic construction instructions, including its length, width, height, compartments, and the use of pitch. The narrative continues through Genesis 7, which describes the Flood’s arrival, Genesis 8, which describes the recession of the waters and Noah’s departure, and Genesis 9, which recounts the covenant and events after the Flood.

This means the Ark story is not confined to one chapter. A reader looking for the complete narrative should read Genesis 6–9. Genesis 6 is the correct starting point because it contains the call to build the Ark; the earlier chapters establish the primeval history but do not yet introduce Noah’s vessel.

The term “biblical account” matters here because other flood traditions use different texts and structures. The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Atrahasis Epic are separate Mesopotamian works, not chapters of Genesis.