There is a view that only domesticated animals (e.g. cattle, sheep etc) were taken by Noah on the ark, while wild animals (e.g. lions, bears etc) were left behind. This view argues that the ark would not have had sufficient space to house all living creatures. The phrase “every living thing” (vs. 19) is taken to mean “every living thing close-by” i.e. domestic animals and livestock within Noah’s immediate vicinity.
Those who hold this perspective ignore the fact that vs. 20 actually lists out the kinds of animals allowed on the ark, “…the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind…” The word “animals” in this verse translates the Hebrew “hab-behemah.” We admit that this term was used primarily for cattle or domesticated animals/livestock (Gen 47:18, Exo 20:10, Lev 19:19, 26:22, Num 3:41 (twice in verse), 3:45 (twice in verse), Deut 2:35, 5:14, 11:15, Jon 4:11, Zech 14:15). But it was not used for tame animals solely; it equally was used to refer to the carnivora in certain contexts (Deut 28:26, 32:24, Pro 30:30, Isa 18:6, Jer 7:33, 15:3, 16:4, 19:7, 34:20). Thus, we can be certain that wild animals (carnivores) were not excluded from the safety of the ark.
God’s wisdom is displayed in His instruction that the animals be collected into the ark “male and female” (vs. 19). This would guarantee their reproduction (cf. Gen 1:24-25), and prevent the extinction of all created animals.
Another endeavour has been to determine how many animals were present in the ark. The word “kind” (vs. 20) gives us a clue. It translates the Hebrew “min” (מ ין), which refers to animals “of the same sort.” “Min” (מ ין) is much wider than our modern term “species.” It corresponds more to genera (see chart below). Thus, Noah did not take all species of animals into the ark, only a “representative” of all kinds of animals. He took one kind of each animal which shared similar characteristics.
For example, Noah would not have taken all breeds of dogs into the ark, only one kind as a representative of all animals which look like dogs (canis lupus familiaris). Then after the Flood, other kinds of dogs would come from this “representative” breed, through the reproductive process, crossbreeding and adaptation. Thus, hundreds of dogs were not required, just one breed, from which other breeds of dogs would later emerge.
Similarly, Noah would not have taken all types of monkeys on the ark, but a single kind as a representative for all monkeys. This way, other monkeys could emerge from the same. Living creatures were not created by evolution, but do evolve/adapt (after their creation), to survive in their various habitats. Thus, a dog’s or monkey’s initial features may gradually change, depending on their unique surroundings, leading to the different breeds we find today.
Based on this point, we know that Noah took about 8000 genera of all land animals (some of which are now extinct) into the ark, making about 16,000-25,000 animals in total (the clean animals were taken in pairs of seven, and unclean animals in pairs of two). The ark would have had more than enough space to fit 16,000-25,000 animals, with even much space left for movement.
Based on the Genesis 6:15 dimensions, the ark was about 510 ft (length) x 85 ft (width) x 51 ft (height). The biblical cubit is about 20.4 inches. This was sufficient to house more than 120,000 sheep. Space was thus not a problem for the ark; there was enough room to house Noah’s family, the animals and food supply sufficient to outlast the Flood (cf. Gen 6:21).
(An excerpt from The Christian’s Guide to Origins, 2024, pp. 283-285)
