Genesis 6:16 Commentary: The Ark's Tsohar and Its Levels

Genesis 6:16 appears within God’s detailed instructions for the ark, a massive vessel of gopher wood (likely cypress), 300 cubits long, 50 wide, and 30 high, roughly 450 by 75 by 45 feet. The word “ark” (tevah) is an archaic term used elsewhere only for the basket that saved Moses. Ellicott describes it as an oblong box meant to float, not sail. The ark had no keel, rudder, or decks in the modern sense; its three stories (lower, second, third) provided living space for humans, animals, and provisions.

The tsohar has puzzled translators for centuries. The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) renders the clause as “collecting, you shall make the ark,” which Cambridge Bible calls “unintelligible.” Symmachus and Aquila offered “transparency” and “noon,” respectively, pointing toward a light-related meaning. Later Jewish tradition, cited by Gill, proposed a luminous stone from the river Pishon. In the Babylonian flood account, the ark had a window and six decks, making the Genesis description simpler by comparison.

The phrase “finish it to a cubit upward” may refer to a cubit-high slit under the eaves for ventilation (Ellicott) or a roof raised slightly in the center (JFB). The door, set in the side, was later shut by God Himself, as recorded in Genesis 7:16:

“Those who went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him; then Yahweh shut him in.”

— Genesis 7:16 (WEB)

The consulted sources note no significant variants in the Hebrew manuscripts of Genesis 6:16. The Septuagint’s rendering “collecting” (επισυνάγων) likely reflects difficulty with the rare word tsohar rather than a different textual tradition. Later translations, such as the Vulgate’s fenestram (window), follow the Hebrew meaning more closely. The variety of ancient translations highlights lexical uncertainty, not textual corruption.

Early Jewish interpretation, recorded in the Targums and cited by commentators like Gill, proposed that the tsohar was a luminous stone that illuminated the ark. Greek translators of the Septuagint struggled to render the word, producing a variant meaning. In Christian tradition, the ark quickly became a symbol of the church and its salvation; the three levels were allegorized as different stages of faith or the tripartite nature of humanity (body, soul, spirit). Reformation commentators focused on the literal history and the obedience of Noah. Modern scholarship, aided by comparative Semitic linguistics and ancient Near Eastern flood accounts, tends to see the tsohar as a skylight or window and interprets the three stories as practical living spaces.

Three-point outline

1. God gives specific instructions. Every detail of the ark, tsohar, cubit, door, stories, matters. Obedience to God often means following directions we do not wholly understand.
2. The ark provides a picture of salvation. The door is Christ; the flood is judgment. Those inside are saved; those outside are lost. The three levels suggest that God’s salvation is ordered and sufficient for all who enter.
3. Noah’s faithful response. He did all God commanded (Gen 6:22). Faith trusts the Designer even when the blueprints are puzzling.

Five-point outline

1. The tsohar: light or covering. Whether window or roof, it provided what was needed, light and air, or shelter from rain.
2. The cubit upward: finishing the work. God completes what He starts. The ark was finished to exact measure.
3. The door: access to refuge. One door, placed in the side. Later, God shut it, no self-rescue. Christ is the only door (John 10:9).
4. The levels: ordered provision. Lower, second, third. God prepares a place for every creature and every need.
5. Noah’s obedience. He did not question the difficult parts. He built and entered by faith.

Illustration hooks

• A detailed architectural blueprint from a trusted architect. You follow the plan even when you do not understand every dimension, because you trust the designer.
• A family preparing for a known hurricane. They stock supplies and reinforce shelter. Instructions are for survival, not comfort.
• A child given a complex puzzle by a parent. The child trusts that the parent has a purpose and completes the puzzle step by step.

Questions your congregation is asking

• Why does God give such precise instructions for the ark? What does that say about how He works with us today?
• Does the ark symbolize Jesus or the church? How can we preach this without forcing the text?
• How can I trust God when His directions seem unclear or strange in my own life?

This verse challenges us to consider both the specificity of God’s commands and the mystery of some details. As we explore together, you will see that even unclear instructions require faithful obedience. Noah built what God said, not what he thought made sense.

Discussion questions

1. Read Genesis 6:16. What are the four specific commands given to Noah in this verse?
2. The Hebrew word tsohar has been translated as “window” or “roof.” Why do translations differ? Does this uncertainty affect the main point of the passage?
3. How do you imagine Noah felt receiving such detailed technical directions? What does this teach about God’s involvement in everyday tasks?
4. The three levels of the ark (lower, second, third) are mentioned but not explained. Why might God include this detail? What does it suggest about order and provision?
5. The door was set in the side of the ark, and later God shut it (Gen 7:16). In what ways does the ark’s door point to God’s sovereign control over salvation?
6. How does the ark as a place of refuge from judgment foreshadow the salvation offered through Christ?
7. In your life, are there areas where God has given clear instructions that you are tempted to overlook or explain away? How can this passage encourage you to obey even when you do not fully understand?