Board index ‹ Noah's Ark & the Flood

[Lost]

Where does it come from and what does it mean? I assume boat, but I'm extremely interested.

[jimwalton]

The Hebrew word is teba. It means "chest" or "box", and thus also a vessel for carrying or storing things. The little basket that Moses was put in (Ex. 2.3, 5) is the same word. Noah's ark wasn't built in the form of a ship or boat, but more like a chest with a flat bottom, sort of how we think of a barge: a big floating box, in this case a floating "house". It was not meant for sailing. There was no steering mechanism or a rudder. Noah's box was just meant to float. Noah's ark was not meant for travel or trade. It's purpose was to float, give them shelter, and be the means of their survival.