How Long Did It Take to Build the Ark?

The Bible does not give a single, explicit verse stating exactly how many years Noah spent building the ark. However, by examining several passages together, we can arrive at a reasonable and widely accepted estimate. Most biblical scholars conclude that Noah spent between 100 and 120 years constructing the ark and preparing for the flood.

This article explains how that conclusion is reached, what Scripture says, and the significance of such a long building period.

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1. Clues from Scripture

Although Genesis does not give a direct timeline, it provides important chronological details.

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A. Noah’s Age When the Story Begins

Genesis 5:32

“And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

Noah was 500 years old when his sons were born.
The command to build the ark came after his sons were grown enough to help.

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B. Noah’s Age When the Flood Came

Genesis 7:6

“And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.”

So:

• Noah was 500 when the story begins

• Noah was 600 when the flood began

This gives a 100-year window.

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C. The 120-Year Warning

Genesis 6:3

“My spirit shall not always strive with man… yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”

Many scholars believe this refers to:

• A 120-year countdown until the flood

• A period of patience, allowing humanity time to repent

• The approximate span during which Noah built the ark and preached righteousness

If this interpretation is correct, Noah may have had up to 120 years for construction and preparation.

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2. The Most Common Scholarly Conclusion

Combining these details, scholars conclude:

Noah likely took between 100 and 120 years to build the ark.

This range accounts for:

• The time from God’s warning to the flood (possibly 120 years)

• The time from the birth of his sons to the flood (100 years)

Since his sons would need to be old enough to help, the actual construction likely took a little less than the full 120 years, but more than several decades.

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3. Why Did It Take So Long?

Building the ark was no ordinary task. Several factors explain the long timeframe:

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A. Enormous Size of the Ark

According to Genesis 6:15, the ark measured:

• Length: 300 cubits (approx. 450 ft / 137 m)

• Width: 50 cubits (approx. 75 ft / 23 m)

• Height: 30 cubits (approx. 45 ft / 14 m)

This made it as large as a modern cargo ship. Building such a vessel by hand, with ancient tools, would be a massive undertaking.

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B. Limited Workforce

Noah did not employ a huge team of builders. Scripture indicates only:

• Noah

• His three sons: Shem, Ham, Japheth

• Possibly their wives

This small family built one of the largest wooden structures in history.

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C. Preaching While Building

According to 2 Peter 2:5, Noah was “a preacher of righteousness.”

This suggests he:

• Spent time warning people

• Explained the coming judgment

• Called people to repentance

Thus, building the ark was not the only task—Noah was also preaching for many years.

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D. Gathering Materials

Constructing the ark required:

• Cutting and shaping massive amounts of gopher wood

• Making rooms and levels

• Applying pitch inside and out

• Crafting doors, windows, beams, and storage areas

All of this demanded great time and effort.

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4. The Purpose of the Long Building Period

The extended construction period was not only practical but also spiritual.

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A. God’s Mercy and Patience

God allowed over a century for humanity to repent.
The ark stood as a giant public warning—a silent sermon of coming judgment.

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B. A Test of Noah’s Faith

Building something so huge for so long required:

• Patience

• Perseverance

• Trust in God

• Faith in the unseen (Hebrews 11:7)

Every swing of the hammer was an act of obedience.

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C. A Testimony to the World

The people around Noah saw the project growing year after year.
Yet, they refused to believe or repent.

The long timeline highlights how deeply wicked humanity had become.

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5. Summary of the Timeline

Estimated construction time:

100–120 years

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Conclusion

Although Scripture does not give a single explicit number, the biblical evidence strongly indicates that Noah spent between 100 and 120 years building the ark. This long period reflects not only the enormous size of the ark but also the depth of Noah’s obedience and the breadth of God’s patience toward humanity.

Noah’s century-long project stands as a powerful symbol of:

• Faithfulness

• Perseverance

• Obedience to God

• Divine mercy

 

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