Topics

Pitch

Pitch is a dark, sticky substance used in Scripture as a waterproofing sealant and symbol of God's judgment. It appears in biblical narratives involving preservation and divine protection.

Overview

Pitch (Hebrew: k?pher) served as a crucial waterproofing material in ancient times. Noah used pitch to seal the ark against floodwaters, while Moses' mother applied it to protect her infant son. The substance symbolizes both God's preservation of His people and the permanence of His judgment.

Key Scriptures

"And make an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch" (Genesis 6:14, ESV).

"When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. Then she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank" (Exodus 2:3, ESV).

"The streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and her soil into brimstone; her land shall become burning pitch" (Isaiah 34:9, ESV).

Application

Trust that God provides protection and preservation for His people, just as pitch shielded the ark and Moses from destruction.

Scripture References 3
Full Topical Reference List 3 total — Nave's Topical Bible

An opaque mineral used as a plaster and cement

Used by Noah in the ark

Used in making the ark in which Moses was hidden