Table of Contents
- Want Proof of Noah's Flood? Must See Video!
- Quick Facts From The Old Testament Flood Story About The Length of Time It Took To Construct Noah's Ark
- How Long Ago Did Noah Build The Ark?
- Is There Biblical Evidence For Noah's Flood in The Book of Genesis?
- God's Instructions to Noah About Its Construction and Making Food Provisions in Genesis 6:16-22 KJV
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How Long Did It Really Take Noah To Build The Ark?
How many years are we talking about for the building of the famous Ark of Noah? We know that it housed the animals and Noah's family, but how long did it take to construct? How much time did it take?
How long did it take Noah to build the ark in Genesis? This will be the topic of our bible study.
Want Proof of Noah's Flood? Must See Video!
Quick Facts From The Old Testament Flood Story About The Length of Time It Took To Construct Noah's Ark
How long did it take to build the ark?
- Many bible scholars and historians believe that it took between 52 to 75 years for Noah to build it in the story of Genesis to survive the flood.
- The length of time it took to build it shows the longsuffering of God, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
- There isn't a conclusive verse in Genesis or in the entire Bible that gives the exact length of time for the ark's construction.
- Many believe that it took near 100 years for Noah to build it.
- We know that it most likely took less than 100 years to build and that based on the bible reference of Genesis 6:3 that Noah had 120 years to build it, but several passages show that it was not 120 years to build it.
- Most bible scholars put it at less than 100 years.
- The scholarly consensus is that it took around 52 to 75 years to build the ark.
| Scholar (time period — source/work) | Literal / historical estimate (paraphrase w/ scriptural refs) |
|---|---|
| Philo of Alexandria c. 20 BCE–50 CE — Allegorical writings | Treats account allegorically; nevertheless later readers of Philo’s tradition often interpret the warning period (Gen 6:3) as a long period — effectively decades (≈120 years) available for building. |
| Flavius Josephus 37–100 CE — Antiquities of the Jews | Records tradition that Noah warned and built over many years; Josephus’ account implies decades of construction (commonly understood as up to 120 years, per Gen 6:3). |
| Origen c.185–253 CE — Homilies on Genesis | Spiritual reading but accepts tradition of a prolonged warning/building span; historically taken as a long period (decades; up to 120 years). |
| Augustine of Hippo 354–430 CE — City of God; Literal Meaning of Genesis | Notes 120 years as interval of warning; literal-historical reading accepts that Noah’s work could have spanned the 120-year interval. |
| Jerome c.347–420 CE — Hebrew Questions on Genesis | Passes on Jewish tradition: ark-building and warning took place during a long period (traditionally 120 years). |
| Rashi 1040–1105 — Commentary on Genesis | Cites rabbinic tradition that God gave 120 years during which Noah built the ark and preached — understood as a literal, multi-decade construction period. |
| Saadia Gaon 882–942 — Commentary on Genesis | Reports tradition equating Gen 6:3 with the time allowed for Noah’s activity — taken as 120 years for warning/building. |
| Abraham ibn Ezra 1089–1164 — Commentary on Genesis | Notes interpretations that see the 120 years as the span set aside for Noah’s labors — effectively decades (≈120 years). |
| Maimonides (Rambam) 1135–1204 — Guide for the Perplexed | More rationalizing, but recognizes the traditional reading where the 120-year interval functions as the period allotted for Noah’s work — taken historically as many years. |
| Thomas Aquinas 1225–1274 — Summa Theologiae; Genesis commentary | Follows patristic tradition that the warning/assembly lasted a long period (understood by many as 120 years) during which Noah built the ark. |
| Martin Luther 1483–1546 — Genesis lectures | Generally treats the narrative literally; commentators in his tradition read the pre-Flood warning/build as a long time — decades, commonly tied to 120 years. |
| John Calvin 1509–1564 — Commentary on Genesis | Accepts the tradition that Noah labored and warned over an extended period — read by many as decades (the 120-year interval). |
| James Ussher 1581–1656 — Chronology & Genesis notes | Works within traditional chronology; interpreters in his vein read Gen 6:3 as an extended 120-year prelude during which ark preparation occurred. |
| Matthew Henry 1662–1714 — Commentary on the Whole Bible | Echoes standard Protestant view: God gave 120 years of forbearance during which Noah built the ark and warned the people (i.e., decades). |
| John Lightfoot 1602–1675 — Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae | A literalist who and whose circle read Gen 6:3 as a long (≈120-year) interval for Noah’s building and preaching. |
| Franz Delitzsch 1813–1890 — Commentary on Genesis | Documents traditional literalist readings: the ark’s construction is commonly located within a multi-decade (≈120-year) period. |
| Umberto Cassuto 1883–1951 — Commentary on Genesis | Records traditional exegesis that equates the 120-year element with the time available for ark preparation — effectively long (decades). |
| Hermann Gunkel 1862–1932 — Form-critical Genesis studies | Literary-critical: resists precise literal chronology, but recognizes that older tradition reads Gen 6:3 as allowing a long, multi-decade period (traditionally 120 years). |
| Julius Wellhausen 1844–1918 — Documentary Hypothesis | Treats numbers as editorial; does not insist on a literal building timetable — historically his school notes the tradition that fixes decades (≈120 years) for warning/building, but he avoids literalizing it. |
| Nahum M. Sarna 1923–2005 — JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis | Emphasizes narrative intent; notes traditional literal readings that place the ark’s construction in a long warning period (commonly understood as 120 years). |
| William F. Albright 1891–1971 — Archaeology & biblical interpretation | While cautious, Albright notes traditions that imply ark preparation occurred over many years (often read as decades). |
| Gordon J. Wenham b. 1943 — WBC: Genesis 1–15 | Presents interpretive options; many readers following Wenham adopt a literal-historical reading equating the warning period with a long (decadal/≈120-year) construction period. |
| Derek Kidner 1913–2008 — Tyndale Genesis commentary | Emphasizes plain-readings: the ages and Gen 6:3 suggest an extended interval — so ark construction is viewed as a multi-decade task (up to c.120 years). |
| John H. Walton b. 1952 — Ancient Near Eastern context work | Focuses on function; he cautions against modern assumptions but recognizes that literal-historical interpreters treat Gen 6:3 as an interval of decades for building. |
| Kenneth A. Kitchen b. 1932 — On the Reliability of the OT | Accepts many traditional synchronisms; conservative readings in his circle place ark-building across years-to-decades (traditionally up to 120 years). |
| Robert Alter b. 1935 — The Art of Biblical Narrative | Emphasizes literary effect; still, literal interpreters take the narrative’s ages to mean the ark’s preparation took an extended, decadal period. |
| Richard Elliott Friedman b. 1946 — Who Wrote the Bible? | Source-critic: while analytic about origins, notes that many source-traditions imply a long pre-flood interval (often taken as 120 years) during which ark-building occurred. |
| Peter Enns b. 1961 — Inspiration & Incarnation | Notes theological/literary readings; nevertheless, many historical-literal interpreters take Gen 6:3 to indicate c.120 years available for Noah’s building and warning. |
| Walter Brueggemann b. 1933 — Prophetic & Genesis studies | Reads the rhetoric but acknowledges the long-warning tradition; literal-historical readers typically interpret the period as decades (traditionally 120 years). |
| F. F. Bruce 1910–1990 — Biblical history/commentary | Conservative-historical: treats the tradition as indicating a prolonged period (decades) during which Noah prepared the ark (commonly equated with 120 years). |
| C. John Collins b. 1954 — Genesis & OT theology works | Notes ambiguity but records the mainstream literal reading: the 120-year interval provides decades for ark construction (commonly understood as up to 120 years). |
| Tremper Longman III b. 1952 — Genesis commentary | Summarizes that literal/historical readers typically place ark construction within a long pre-flood period (decades, often tied to 120 years). |
| N. T. Wright b. 1948 — Biblical-theological writing | Not a specialist on Genesis, but recognizes that literal-historical interpreters treat Gen 6:3 as an extended warning period — decades (≈120 years) used for building. |
| John Sailhamer 1946–2017 — Genesis commentary | In his textual-historical approach, notes that many readers take the 120 years as a literal preparatory interval — i.e., decades for construction. |
| James Barr 1924–2006 — Linguistics & exegesis | Linguistically cautious; historically many commentators reading Gen 6:3 as literal infer a long (decadal / 120-year) period for ark construction. |
| Claus Westermann 1914–2000 — Genesis commentary (Hermeneia) | Analyzes form/tradition; still, the traditional literal reading reads the interval as a long period (decades) for the ark’s assembly. |
| Martin Noth 1902–1968 — Historical-critical studies | Treats the text critically; records that tradition associated with Gen 6:3 yields a literal-historical reading of many years/decades for construction, though he himself resists literalizing. |
| E. J. Young 1907–1968 — Conservative Genesis commentary | Treats Genesis more literally: readers in his tradition take Gen 6:3 to mean 120 years available for Noah’s building and public warning. |
| Gleason Archer 1916–2004 — OT handbook & commentary | Conservative-historical: argues for a literal reading that places the ark’s construction across a long period — often identified with the 120 years. |
| Ronald S. Hendel b. 1956 — Hebrew Bible scholarship | Notes multiple interpretive options, but recognizes the historical-literal tradition reading Gen 6:3 as a multi-decade (≈120-year) building interval. |
| Moshe Weinfeld 1925–2009 — Biblical studies | Documents ancient tradition; many literal readings take the 120-year span as the period of Noah’s building — i.e., decades. |
| Heinrich Ewald 1803–1875 — OT scholarship | Critical but records that older traditional readings interpret the 120-year motif as an extended period for Noah’s labors (historically decades, commonly quoted as 120 years). |
| S. R. Driver 1846–1914 — Genesis commentary | Sees the 120 years as the narrative’s long warning period in tradition; literal readers interpret that as decades for construction. |
| Victor P. Hamilton b. 1941 — Handbook on the Pentateuch | Notes that literal-historical readers place ark construction within the extended interval (interpreted as c.120 years). |
| John Van Seters b. 1935 — Historical-critical Genesis studies | Critical-historical approach; records that traditional literalists infer a long pre-flood period (decades) for ark construction though he himself treats numbers as editorial. |
| Bruce K. Waltke 1930–2021 — Genesis commentary & OT theology | Conservative-critical: acknowledges a common literal reading that assigns c.120 years (decades) for ark preparation and warning. |
| David Noel Freedman 1922–2008 — Anchor Bible/Genesis studies | Documents interpretive traditions that read Gen 6:3 as indicating a multi-decade period for the ark’s building. |
| Kenneth A. Mathews b. 1947 — NIVAC: Genesis | Notes that literal/historical interpreters treat the 120-year span as the time allotted for Noah’s activity — decades (traditionally 120 years). |
| James L. Kugel b. 1945 — The Bible as It Was | Traces Jewish interpretive history showing rabbinic and medieval interpreters attributing 120 years for Noah’s work — taken literally by those traditions. |
| Walter C. Kaiser Jr. b. 1949 — OT theology & exegesis | Conservative interpreter: reads Gen 6:3’s interval as the period during which Noah built the ark — a long span (decades / c.120 years). |
| Henry M. Morris 1918–2006 — Creationist writings (The Genesis Flood) | Young-earth creationist literalist: treats Genesis chronologies straightforwardly and typically places ark construction within a multi-decade frame, often aligning with the 120-year warning interval or shorter within Noah’s lifespan (commonly cited as ~100 years from Noah fathering sons to the Flood). |
| John C. Whitcomb 1924–2020 — The Genesis Flood (with Morris) | Co-author with Morris: holds a literal reading implying ark-building took place over a long period (decades, often equated with the 120-year interval). |
| Michael S. Heiser 1963–2023 — Biblical studies & commentary | Often emphasizes ancient Near Eastern context and cautions about precise modern engineering timelines; nonetheless notes that literal-historical readings place ark construction within many years (commonly up to 120). |
| Andrew Steinmann b. 1954 — Biblical chronology & OT commentaries | Conservative-literalist: treats Genesis numbers seriously; readers in his camp often infer ark construction took decades (roughly 50–120 years depending on interpretation of when Noah began building). |
How Long Ago Did Noah Build The Ark?
- According to Bishop Ussher, the earth was created around 4004 BC and the flood took place around the year 2350 BC.
- This would mean that the flood took place around 4374 years ago.
- Since Noah took some time before the ark was completed before the time of the flood, it's safe to say that Noah's ark was finished around 4474 years ago (give or take).
Is There Biblical Evidence For Noah's Flood in The Book of Genesis?
Conclusion: How long did it take for Noah to build the ark for the flood? How much time did it ultimtely take?Bible scholars put it at 52-75 years for the ark to be built.How well do you know The Bible? Find Out- Take Free Quiz
What Next? Read our Bible Verses About Friendship and Brotherhood
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God's Instructions to Noah About Its Construction and Making Food Provisions in Genesis 6:16-22 KJV
- 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
- 17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
- 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
- 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
- 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.Bible Verses About Not Giving Up (Powerful)
- 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
- 22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
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