Unveiling the Intriguing Parallels Between Noah’s Ark and the Ark of the Covenant

There are two distinct and significant arks in the Bible: Noah’s ark and the ark of the covenant. Although both are commonly referred to as “arks” in English, the original Hebrew uses two entirely different words. For Noah’s ark, the word “teivah” is used, while the ark of the covenant is called “aron”. Despite being translated into the same word in English, these two words have different literal definitions.

The word teivah appears in another location within the Bible.

When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river.

-Exodus 2:3 NRSVue

The term aron is also utilized in a different context.

And Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old; he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

-Genesis 50:26 NRSVue

Ohr.Edu has this to say,

“Based on the contexts in which these two words are invoked, we may argue that the difference between them is in where the arks are used. The word teivah is only used for a storage device kept afloat on the water, while the word aron refers to storage place that need not necessarily involve floating on water. So, it seems that the difference between the types of containers meant by teivah and the types meant by aron is that the former is only used for storing something atop a body of water, while the latter is not. Alternatively, we may suppose that the distinction between these two forms of storing lies in what is being stored. In the Biblical examples the word teivah refers specifically to “storing” a live person, i.e. Noah and his family or the baby Moshe…The word aron, on the other hand, refers to other types of storage — even storing inanimate articles like the Tablets or Joseph’s corpse.

Let’s delve deeper into their similarities.

• Created according to specific instructions from God.
• Made of a specific wood and measured in cubits.
• Both are vessels meant to carry something precious inside, and nothing else.

With that in mind, let’s explore the concept of a Torah Ark. Known as “aron kodesh” or “aron hakodesh” in Hebrew, which translates to “holy ark” in English, the Torah ark is a beautifully adorned chamber in a synagogue designed to house the sacred Torah scrolls. Typically positioned at the front of the synagogue, facing Jerusalem, the ark can take the form of a standalone piece of furniture or a wall niche.

Can you believe that this Torah Ark used the same word as the Ark of the Covenant, “aron”?!

What further insights can be gleaned from comparing these distinct arks? Feel free to share your perspectives in the comments!

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Be blessed!

-Pastor Alex Burchnell

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Sources

https://ohr.edu/7030