Gopher Wood
“Uncertain; possibly related to resinous pitch”
Summary
The material from which Noah built the ark, a term of uncertain meaning but likely referring to a resinous wood such as cypress.
☩The Ark's Construction
God commanded Noah to build the ark of gopher wood and to pitch it inside and out with pitch. The Hebrew word 'gopher' occurs only in this passage, and its exact meaning remains uncertain despite much scholarly investigation. The most common suggestion is cypress, which was prized in antiquity for shipbuilding due to its durability and resistance to water.
☩Possible Identifications
Some connect gopher with the Hebrew word 'gophrit' meaning brimstone or pitch, suggesting a resinous wood. Others note the similarity to the modern Arabic 'kufa,' the name given to boats made of interwoven branches coated with bitumen, still used on Mesopotamian rivers. Cypress abounded in Babylonia and Armenia—the region where Noah may have built the ark—and was used by Alexander for building his fleet. Pine, cedar, and fir have also been proposed as possibilities.
Related Verses1 mention
Genesis· 1 verse
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Gopher Wood," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.George Morrish, "Gopher Wood," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Gopher Wood," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.Edwin W. Rice, "Gopher-wood," in The People's Dictionary of the Bible (American Sunday-School Union, 1893).
- 5.John Kitto, "Gopher Wood," in A Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, vol. I (Mark H. Newman, 1845).