Could Noah Build the Ark in 75 Years?

(3 Minute Read. 16Feb2022)

The Genesis history of the worldwide Flood does not explicitly state exactly how long it took Noah to build the Ark. But the previous blog article, How Long Did It Take Noah to Build the Ark?, showed from Genesis that it took no longer than about 75 years. It might have been a much shorter time.

Could Noah Have Built the Ark in 75 Years?

Seventy-five years was plenty of time for Noah to build the Ark.

We simply do not know how advanced the antediluvian technology was since it was destroyed by the Flood. Pre-flood men lived for over 900 years, so they would have learned, developed, and accumulated vast amounts of knowledge, skills, and resources during their lives.

Adam and his early descendants were highly intelligent, probably much smarter than today’s top scientists. How easy would it be for you to come up with names for hundreds of new animals in just a few hours? Adam did that (Genesis 2:19-20).

Moreover, Adam was probably the one who invented writing. We know he wrote a book which Moses incorporated into Genesis. The first four chapters of Genesis come from Adam’s written records, as credited by Moses:
This is the book of the generations of Adam. (Genesis 5:1)

The Hebrew word sêpher (Strong’s H5612) that Moses used, translated book, literally means writing. It indicates a register, account, or history.

Adam’s son Cain built a city which he named Enoch after his son. To build a city requires math, physics, and engineering knowledge, not to mention planning and personnel-management skills. Cain’s 6th-generation grandson Tubal-cain developed metallurgy, forging bronze and iron tools. His half-brother Jubal invented musical instruments. (Genesis 4:17-22).

Noah was well over 500 years old when he began to build the Ark. He and his world undoubtedly had learned much in that time period. Noah had centuries of accumulated resources and wisdom to apply to the task. He certainly had metal technology available and probably construction techniques which are no longer known today.

The mammoth project of building the Ark would likely spur many inventions and insights. Having the mental flourishing of a close walk with God, and having fewer generations of sin-damage accumulation after the Fall to cloud his human ingenuity, Noah and his sons and their wives could have been remarkable innovators for efficient craftsmanship. Noah may have had very impressive construction tools, techniques, and technology that would amaze us today.

For an indication of how much technology Noah’s world may have had, consider some of the things that have been invented or discovered in our world since 1500: microscope, telescope, steam and gasoline engines, refrigerator, sewing machine, cotton gin, electricity, telegraph, color photography, telephone, light bulb, radio, plastic, radar, television, car, airplane, train, nuclear power, computer, laser, Internet, email. That list shows what could be learned and accomplished in the space of only 500 years.

Helpers

Did Noah build the Ark all by himself? I don’t think so. Noah’s three sons were grown and able to help. Other relatives likely helped either physically or financially.

Noah’s father Lamech was a godly man (based on the reasoning he gave for Noah’s name, Genesis 5:29). Lamech died five years before the Flood, so he could have helped with the Ark.

Noah’s grandfather Methuselah might also have helped. He was the son of godly Enoch and the father of godly Lamech, so it is likely that he also loved God. He died the year of the Flood.

BibleScienceGuy and friends at the stern
of the Ark Encounter, July 2016

Noah could also have hired many laborers, even hundreds, to work on the Ark. If today three or four men can build a large house in two months, it is certain that Noah, his sons, relatives, and hired laborers could easily have built the Ark in 75 years.

The Ark Encounter built by Answers in Genesis in Kentucky is a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark. From the initial excavation in August 2014 to the opening in July 2016, it took only two years to build a ship comparable to Noah’s Ark. Thus it’s reasonable that Noah could have built his Ark in 75 years or less.

How did Noah finance the construction? In 525 years he had surely accumulated substantial wealth. If necessary, he could have borrowed money. The loans would not need to be repaid. Noah was certainly the greatest financier of the ancient world. While he was floating his stock, everyone else was in liquidation.

Even though the Bible does not say exactly how long it took Noah to build the Ark, it is certain that he did build it. Seventy-five years was more than enough time to build the Ark, collect food stores for people and animals, and load all stores, people, and animals into the Ark.

Questions to Ponder

1. If you could live for several centuries, what would you want to study and learn in your second century?
2. If a person today lived for 950 years as Noah did, how much knowledge, skills, and technology could he learn and develop?

Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.

For Christ and His Kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria. Alere Flammam Veritatis.

This is the fourth in a series of articles on Noah. This Noah Series will suggest answers to many of the questions believers and skeptics have about Noah, Noah’s Ark, and Noah’s Flood.
Read the prequels:
1. Think You Know Noah?
2. Did Jesus Think Noah Was Real?
3. How Long Did It Take Noah to Build the Ark?

Read the sequel:
5. How Big Was Noah’s Ark?

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
“for the defense of the gospel”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:16)
Wednesday February 16, 2022 A.D.

Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish.
(Genesis 6:13-17)

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