Genesis 6:16

A window. Certain Hebrew words and the grammatical construction employed in this verse are the occasion of difficulty in ascertaining what Moses meant. The word translated “window,” sohar, may mean either “light,” “light opening,” or “roof.” The translation “roof,” as in the RSV, seems to rest on stronger evidence than the translation “window.” The fact that Noah could not see the surface of the earth until the sohar was opened (see Gen. 8:6) seems to favor this view. Whatever it may mean, light was admitted from the top (see PP 95).

In a cubit shalt thou finish it above. This sentence is difficult to interpret. If the word sohar means a “light opening,” the sentence may refer to a kind of lattice-work one cubit high surrounding the upper part of the ark to admit light. If sohar means “roof,” it may have practically the same meaning, namely that there was one cubit between the roof and the upper edge of the walls.