The Hebrew noun gopher refers to the wood used in constructing Noah's ark (Genesis 6:14). It appears only once in the entire Bible. The exact species is debated — proposals include cypress, cedar, pine, or ebony. Some scholars connect it to the Akkadian giparu (reeds) or argue it refers to a specific resilient wood known in the ancient Near East for shipbuilding.
Though gopher appears only once, its context is theologically rich. The ark of gopher wood was the instrument of salvation for Noah and his family — a type of Christ who is our refuge in divine judgment. Peter explicitly draws this typology: Noah's rescue through water prefigures Christian baptism (1 Peter 3:20–21). The mystery of gopher reminds us that sometimes God's means of salvation are unexpected and outside our categories.