Pitch
What Was Biblical Pitch?
In the Bible, "pitch" refers to a thick, viscous, waterproofing substance used as a sealant. The original Hebrew uses two main words: kopher (and its verb form kaphar) and zepheth. While the exact composition may have varied, evidence suggests it was a natural bitumen or asphalt, similar to what seeped from the ground around the Dead Sea, or possibly a resin from trees like the terebinth. Its primary function was to create an impermeable barrier against water, making it crucial for construction and preservation.
Pitch in the Narrative of Noah's Ark
The most theologically significant use of pitch occurs in the story of the flood. God gives Noah specific building instructions for the ark, commanding, "Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch" (Genesis 6:14). Here, the Hebrew word is kopher, which is intriguingly related to the word for "atonement" (kippur), meaning "to cover." The pitch provides a literal, physical covering that protects the ark from the chaotic waters of judgment, ensuring the survival of Noah, his family, and the animal kinds. This act of sealing the vessel is the practical means by which God's promise of preservation is fulfilled.
Pitch in the Story of Moses
Pitch appears again in another foundational salvation story: the rescue of the infant Moses. Fearing Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew boys, Moses's mother places him in a basket made of bulrushes. The text states, "She daubed it with bitumen and pitch" (Exodus 2:3). The Hebrew here uses zepheth (pitch) and chemar (bitumen or slime). This waterproof coating allowed the basket to float safely among the reeds of the Nile, directly leading to Moses's discovery by Pharaoh's daughter and his preservation for his future role as deliverer. In both narratives, pitch is the humble material God uses to protect the human instruments of His covenant promises.
Prophetic and Historical Context
Beyond these narratives, pitch is mentioned in prophetic literature as part of the imagery of divine judgment. Isaiah, describing the future desolation of Edom, prophesies, "Its streams shall be turned into pitch, and its soil into sulfur; its land shall become burning pitch" (Isaiah 34:9). This evokes the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah and connects pitch to the cataclysmic consequences of sin. Historically, the bitumen pits of the Dead Sea region (the Vale of Siddim) were well-known in antiquity (Genesis 14:10). Ancient Near Eastern texts and archaeology confirm the widespread use of natural asphalt for waterproofing boats, sealing jars, and in construction, validating the biblical accounts as reflecting common technological practice.
Symbolic and Theological Significance
The use of pitch carries profound symbolic weight. In Noah's ark, the pitch that "covers" (kaphar) the wood prefigures the theological concept of atonement, where sin is "covered" or propitiated. It represents the necessary barrier between the chaos of judgment and the order of salvation. God provides the instructions for this covering, highlighting that salvation is initiated and designed by Him. The substance transforms a vulnerable wooden vessel into a seaworthy ark of refuge. Similarly, in Moses's story, pitch facilitates the protection of the future deliverer, showing God's providence working through ordinary means. Thus, pitch moves from a simple industrial material to a symbol of God's preserving grace, His meticulous care in executing His redemptive plan, and the tangible means by which He shelters His chosen people from destructive forces.
Biblical Context
Pitch appears in three primary contexts in Scripture. In the Pentateuch, it is central to two salvation narratives: the construction of Noah's ark (Genesis 6:14) and the preparation of Moses's basket (Exodus 2:3). In prophetic literature, Isaiah uses the image of burning pitch to depict God's judgment on Edom (Isaiah 34:9). The related substance "slime" or bitumen (Hebrew chemar) is mentioned in the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:3) and the battle of the kings in the Vale of Siddim (Genesis 14:10). Its role is consistently practical—as a waterproof sealant—within moments of great theological importance.
Theological Significance
Pitch holds theological significance as a material symbol of God's preserving grace and the means of salvation. In covering the ark, it acted as the barrier between the waters of judgment and the covenant life within, foreshadowing the concept of atonement as a protective covering. Its use demonstrates that God's salvation is both divinely ordained and practically executed, using ordinary elements to accomplish extraordinary deliverance. It teaches that God cares about the physical details of preservation and often works through humble, tangible means to protect and further His redemptive purposes for His people.
Historical Background
Extra-biblical sources and archaeology confirm that the "pitch" of the Bible was likely natural bitumen (asphalt), a petroleum-based substance that seeped to the surface around the Dead Sea. This region was famous in antiquity for its bitumen pits, which were a valuable trade commodity. Ancient Mesopotamian texts, including the Epic of Gilgamesh, also describe the use of bitumen for waterproofing boats. The Greek Septuagint translates the Hebrew words as asphaltos, confirming this identification. The substance was used throughout the ancient Near East for waterproofing vessels, sealing baths and pools, in mortar, and for embalming, making its biblical usage historically authentic.