What does "Ark" mean in the Bible?

What does the Bible say about Ark?

ARK. The word indicates three structures. 1. Noah's ark, the vessel constructed at God's command for the preservation of himself and family and a stock of the various animals, etc., during the Flood. Gen 6:14. 2. Moses' ark of bulrushes. Ex 2:3. 3. And usually, the ark of the covenant. Noah's Ark. — It was four hundred and fifty feet long, seventy-five feet in breadth, and forty-five in height, and was designed, not to sail, but only to float when borne up by the waters. It had lower, second, and third stories, besides what in common vessels is called the hold. A door was placed in the side, and on the roof a series of windows or a window-course in which some translucent substance may have been used. The ark was constructed of gopherwood, and covered with bitumen or pitch to exclude water. It is doubtful where the ark was built and as to how long time it took. The weight of opinion is that it was from one hundred to one hundred and twenty years. Compare Gen 5:32 and 1 Tim 7:6; Gen 6:3 with 1 Pet 3:20. The ark is supposed to have been a long, square-cornered boat with a flat bottom and a sloping roof; and the construction of it has been the subject of much curious, not to say useless, speculation. The proportions of the ark, as those recommended by the experience of centuries of ship-building, are of themselves a proof of Noah's inspiration. In regard to the capacity of the ark, it was large enough to accommodate the eight persons of Noah's family, and all the animals to be saved in it. Some scholars confine the number of animals to the species living in the parts of the world then inhabited by men, excepting, of course, such as live in the water or lie dormant. Traditions of the ark and of the Deluge are found among most ancient nations. See Flood. Moses's Ark was made of the bulrush or papyrus, which grows in marshy places in Egypt. It was daubed with slime, which was probably the mud of which their bricks were made, and with pitch or bitumen. Ex 2:3. Ark of the Covenant, Ex 25:10, a chest constructed by the express command of Jehovah, three feet nine inches in length, and two feet three inches in width and height, made of shittim-wood and covered with plates of gold within and without. A border or crown of gold encircled it near the top, and it was surmounted by the Supposed form of Ark of the Covenant. mercy-seat, which was of solid gold, and answered the purpose of a cover or lid to the ark. On each end of the mercy-seat was placed a golden image representing a cherub facing inward and bending down over the ark. Two rings of gold were attached to the body of the ark on each side, through which passed the staves or poles, made of the same wood and overlaid with gold, that were used in carrying it from place to place, and these were never taken out. This ark contained originally and in design, 1. A golden pot in which the three quarts of manna were preserved. Ex 16:33. 2. Aaron's rod, which at different places miraculously budded and blossomed and yielded fruit all at once, Num 17:8; and, 3. The tables of the testimony, or the tables of the ten commandments, written with the finger of God and constituting the testimony or evidence of the covenant between God and the people. Deut 31:26; Heb 9:3, 4. Hence it is sometimes called the ark of the testimony, and sometimes the ark of the covenant. Ex 25:16 and Ex 40:21; It is probable that the first two were hopelessly lost before the reign of Solomon. 1 Kgs 8:9. On the mercy-seat which surmounted the ark rested the awful and mysterious symbol of the divine presence. Lev 16:2; Num 7:89. When the Israelites were journeying through the wilderness, the ark was borne in advance of the people, and their route was providentially indicated by "the cloud of the Lord." When the ark set forward, Moses said, "Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee." Num 10:33-36. After the children of Israel had passed the Jordan, whose waters divided at the approach of the ark. Josh 3:14-17, the tabernacle was set up at Gilgal, and this sacred vessel remained in it for a season. It was then removed to Shiloh, where it was stationary between three and four hundred years, [scripture]Jer. 7:12-15[scripture]; and being then taken out and borne before the army, it fell into the hands of the Philistines at the defeat of the Israelites near Aphek. 1 Sam 4. The Philistines took it to Ashdod and placed it by the side of their idolgod Dagon, 1 Sam 5; but by severe judgments God avenged his insulted majesty, and they were compelled to return the ark to the people of Israel, by whom it was lodged at Kirjath-jearim. 1 Sam 6 and 1 Kgs 15:7. When David had fixed his residence at Jerusalem, the ark was removed thither with sacred ceremonies, and kept until the temple was prepared to receive it. 2 Sam 6; 1 Chr 15:25-28, on which occasion it is supposed the one hundred and thirty-second Psalm was written. Solomon put it in the temple. 2 Chr 5:2-10. Manasseh placed a carved image in the house of God, probably removing the ark to make way for it. Josiah, however, restored it. See 2 Chr 33:7 and 2 Chr 35:3. The second temple did not contain the ark; whether it was seized among the spoils when the city was sacked, or whether it was secreted and afterward destroyed, does not appear. The Jews think it will be restored when their Messiah appears. Wherever the Jews dwelt or wandered, they always worshipped toward the place where the ark of the covenant rested. Dan 6:10.

What is the Hebrew word for Ark?

Where does Ark appear in the Bible?

Ark is referenced in 150 verses across 17 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• 1 Chronicles 6:31
• 1 Chronicles 13:3
• 1 Chronicles 13:6
• 1 Chronicles 13:9
• 1 Chronicles 13:10
• 1 Chronicles 13:12
• 1 Chronicles 13:13
• 1 Chronicles 13:14
• 1 Chronicles 15:1
• 1 Chronicles 15:2
• 1 Chronicles 15:3
• 1 Chronicles 15:12
• 1 Chronicles 15:14
• 1 Chronicles 15:15
• 1 Chronicles 15:23
• 1 Chronicles 15:25
• 1 Chronicles 15:26
• 1 Chronicles 15:28
• 1 Chronicles 16:1
• 1 Chronicles 16:4
• 1 Chronicles 16:6
• 1 Chronicles 16:37
• 1 Chronicles 22:19
• 1 Chronicles 28:2

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Ark.