5 Facts Sunday School Got Wrong About Noah & the Ark

by Alaina Goode

August 7, 2025
3 minute read

Welcome to Sunday School. đź“š

Today, we’re revisiting a children’s ministry favorite: the one with the rainbow, a boat full of animals, and plenty of coloring pages: Noah and the Ark.

Whether you’ve read the Bible cover to cover or have never read a verse in your life, there’s a good chance there are still some surprising details you’ve never heard about this ancient story.

Let’s learn five fun facts about this floating zoo, and maybe you’ll walk away seeing the story in a whole new light.

1. Gopher wood?

Yep, the ark was built with gopher wood.

đź“– “Build a large boat from gopher wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.” | Genesis 6:14

But here’s the thing: no one knows what gopher wood actually is. It’s never mentioned again in the Bible, and no one today can say for sure what kind of wood it was. All we know is it had to be incredibly strong and water-resistant. Basically, the ancient boat-building mystery remains unsolved.

2. It had never rained before.

Have you ever heard “when it rains, it pours?”

đź“– “For the Lord God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil. Instead, springs came up from the ground and watered all the land.” | Genesis 2:6

Before the flood, the earth was watered by mists and underground streams, not rain. The flood was the first time raindrops fell from the sky. Imagine trying to explain that to your neighbors while building a massive boat.

3. The animals were not just 2 by 2.

We’ve all heard the classic “two of every animal” line, but it’s not the full picture.

đź“– “Take with you seven pairs—male and female—of each animal I have approved for eating and for sacrifice, and take one pair of each of the others” | Genesis 7:2-3

God told Noah to bring seven pairs of every clean animal, and just one pair of the unclean ones. That’s a whole lot more paws and hooves on board than we were led to believe.

4. Noah was 600 years old when the flood started.

Now, this one may seem a bit more obvious because every painting of Noah, he’s got a long gray beard and usually unruly hair.

đź“– “Noah was 600 years old when the flood covered the earth.” | Genesis 7:6

Realizing he was literally six centuries old when the rain began makes this story even more mind-blowing. And get this, Noah lived another 350 years after the flood. That birthday cake would have to be as big as the ark for all those candles.

5. The flood lasted over a year.

We usually think “40 days and 40 nights,” but that’s just the rain part.

 

đź“– “Noah was now 601 years old. On the first day of the new year, ten and a half months after the flood began, the floodwaters had almost dried up from the earth. Noah lifted back the covering of the boat and saw that the surface of the ground was drying. 14Two more months went by, and at last the earth was dry!” | Genesis 8:13-14

In total, Noah and his family were on the ark for about 370 days. Over a year of floating, feeding animals, and wondering what came next. Can you imagine the smell?

So… did you learn something new?

Even if you’ve heard this story a dozen times, maybe now you’ll see it with fresh eyes. Because the most incredible part of Noah’s story isn’t just the boat, the animals, or the gopher wood: it’s his trust.

While the world laughed, he kept building. While the skies stayed clear, he stayed faithful. What if the real test is how we trust God in the waiting, the calm before the chaos, or when nothing makes sense?

In the 6-day Bible study, “Noah: Choosing to Trust God In Every Season,” you’ll explore how to find peace, purpose, and a firm foundation even when life feels uncertain.

Start the FREE 6-Day Noah Bible Study
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