Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PITCH

PITCH

There are many interesting details in Scripture which never seem to be pointed out in churches. One such is the use of the word “pitch” in the Old Testament. In Genesis 6, God tells Noah to:

 

Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; 

make rooms in the ark, 

and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 

(Genesis 6:14)

In the story of the flood in Genesis, Noah and his family are saved by God via means of an ark during the time when God decided to destroy mankind by means of a flood because of the great wickedness in the world. Noah was told to make the ark as above and seal it with pitch. Now the word used for pitch in this case is “kaphar” - a word used only in this instance.  In other instances, where a word for a coating substance is used, the word “zepheth” is employed.

So why is there a change in words when essentially the same meaning is to be implied in both cases? Is it because there is an allegorical meaning in the first instance? The rain and flooding in the story of Noah's ark is representative of the wrath of God being delivered on the earth with the destruction of all living. The ark was, of course, the means by which God provided for those who had found favour with Him due to their righteousness. But even that by itself was apparently not enough, for even a well-built boat can still leak if not sealed properly and that, of course, is what pitch is for, to seal the boat thoroughly inside and out.

But the word “Kaphar” used in Genesis also means “atonement” defined as the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind*. Atonement is used for the first time in Leviticus:

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, 

and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; 

for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

(Leviticus 17:11)

As it was the pitch that kept the ark watertight and safe, so it is the blood of Christ that keeps us safe with God and the Holy Spirit. This may be why, in Ephesians, we are told:

…we have redemption through His blood [when]…

 In Him you also trusted, after you heard…

the gospel of your salvation; 

in whom also, having believed, 

you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise… 

(Ephesians 1:7,13)

The Bible has many small details such as this that makes the whole story in the Bible so much more interesting when we know about them.

Just one more thing to think about.

*Definition from Dictionary.com