The story of Noah’s ark is one of the most well-known Bible stories. In Genesis 6-9, we read about how God was grieved by the wickedness of mankind and decided to send a global flood to wipe out all life on earth except for Noah, his family, and the animals God commanded Noah to bring on the ark. But a common question people have is, how did Noah manage to fit all those animals on the ark? Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible tells us.
The Size of the Ark
According to Genesis 6:15, God commanded Noah to build the ark 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. There is some debate as to exactly how long a “cubit” was, but most scholars believe it was approximately 18 inches. This would make the ark about 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. The total volume would be about 1.5 million cubic feet, which is equivalent to around 569 modern railroad stock cars. So this was a massive vessel that could hold a substantial cargo.
Number of Animals
Nowhere in Scripture does it say that Noah had to gather every single animal in the world. Rather, Genesis 6:19-20 indicates that Noah was to bring mating pairs of every kind of animal and bird, specifically those that would be preserved through the flood. The major categories were livestock, creeping things, and birds. The Bible does not say he had to bring full-grown adults; he could have brought young animals that did not take up much room. Given these factors, various studies have estimated a range from about 2,000 to 35,000 individual animals on the ark.
Logical Solutions
Noah did not have to make elaborate arrangements to fit all the animals on the ark. Here are some simple, logical solutions:
- God brought the animals to Noah – Genesis 6:20 says the animals “will come to you.” Noah did not have to track down every animal.
- More floor levels – The ark had three decks (Genesis 6:16), providing more space for animals and supplies.
- Stalls and cages – Simple partitions and enclosures could hold multiple animals.
- Feed and water storage – Specially designated rooms likely stored food and water supplies.
- Hibernation and dormancy – God could have caused the animals to hibernate for the duration of the flood.
- Baby animals – Many animals could have been juveniles, using less space.
- Narrow aisles – The ark was up to 75 feet wide, plenty of room for narrow walkways.
- Roof space – The sloped roof provided extra space not calculated in the total floor area.
In reality, while challenging, the space on the ark would have been sufficient, especially with God’s oversight and intervention in gathering the animals and managing their care.
Meeting All the Animals’ Needs
Not only was there adequate space for all the animals, but Noah and his family were able to provide food, water and care to keep them healthy. Here are some factors to keep in mind:
- Noah brought food – Genesis 6:21 says Noah was to bring food for his family and the animals.
- Preserved fodder – Hay, grain and other feed could have been stored.
- Drinking water – Large water tanks and troughs were likely provided.
- Food and water resupply – God could have directly replenished stores during the year-long flood.
- Seven other people – Noah’s wife, his three sons, and their wives helped in caring for all the animals.
- Animal hibernation – Dramatically reduces food and water needs.
- Supernatural oversight – God Himself ensured the animals were adequately cared for.
Considering all these factors, it was quite possible for Noah and his family to provide for all the daily needs of the animals on board the ark during the flood.
Were Marine Animals on the Ark?
According to Genesis 6:19-20, the animals gathered on the ark were limited to birds, livestock and creeping things. Marine animals such as fish, whales, dolphins, etc. were not included for several logical reasons:
- Water-dwellers survived in oceans – The floodwaters did not destroy the aquatic ecosystems that marine animals depend on.
- Don’t need air – Fish and other sea creatures don’t depend on air to breathe as land animals do.
- Difficult transportation – Moving aquatic animals on and off the ark would be impractical.
- Less space on ark – Excluding fish and other water-dwellers means more room for other animals.
Scripture specifically says God would “destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life” (Genesis 6:17). Marine organisms do not require air to live and thus were not included among the animals Noah gathered.
Supernatural Logistics
Finally, we must remember God was overseeing the entire project. Being omnipotent and sovereign over nature, He could easily have:
- Directed animals to Noah – Animals migrated supernaturally to the ark.
- Placed the animals in torpor – Animals hibernated, requiring less room and care.
- Prepared adequate food – Food was miraculously preserved and remained nutritious.
- Expanded the interior – The inside space was larger than the exterior indicated.
- Propelled the ark – God steered the vessel to its destination.
- Managed animal behavior – Animals lived peacefully together in close quarters.
Nothing is too difficult for the Lord (Jeremiah 32:17). With God’s help, Noah was able to construct a seaworthy ship of adequate size, gather all the animals God sent, and successfully care for them in their voyage.
Why is the Ark Important?
While much is made of the physical reality of the ark, we must not miss its spiritual significance:
- A true, global flood – The enormous magnitude of the ark verifies the Genesis flood was not local.
- Judgment on sin – The wickedness of man grieved God, prompting the judgment of the flood.
- Salvation through faith – Noah believed God’s warning and was saved.
- A new creation – The flood marked the end of one corrupted creation and the start of a new one through Noah.
- Christ typified – The ark preserved those inside from God’s judgment, as Christ preserves believers from the final judgment.
The vast scale of the ark mirrors the cataclysmic, global judgment God poured out on the earth. Within the real historical event, we see shadows of mankind’s sin, God’s grief over evil, the salvation He offers by grace through faith, and the promise of a new creation cleansed from unrighteousness.
Conclusion
While challenging, with God’s help and oversight, it was feasible for Noah to build an ark of the proportions described in Scripture and to successfully house and care for all the animals included. The global flood was a real, miraculous event. More importantly, it stands as a picture of salvation, judgment on sin, and God’s work in creating a new people purified from ungodliness, pointing forward to our ultimate deliverance through faith in Christ.