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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: The Dove</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_dove.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/genesis/8-11.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/d/dove.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > The Dove</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/t/the_doubter.htm" title="The Doubter">◄</a> The Dove <a href="/topical/t/the_dove_does_not_return.htm" title="The Dove Does Not Return">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>The dove is a significant symbol and creature within the biblical narrative, appearing in various contexts throughout the Scriptures. It is often associated with peace, purity, and the Holy Spirit, serving as a powerful emblem in both the Old and New Testaments.<br><br><b>Old Testament References</b><br><br>1. <b>Noah's Ark</b>: The dove first appears in the account of Noah's Ark in Genesis. After the flood, Noah sends out a dove to see if the waters have receded. The dove returns with an olive leaf, indicating that the waters had abated and that new life was emerging on the earth. This event is recorded in <a href="/genesis/8-11.htm">Genesis 8:11</a>: "And behold, the dove returned to him in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in its mouth. So Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth." The dove here symbolizes hope and the promise of new beginnings.<br><br>2. <b>Sacrificial System</b>: In the Mosaic Law, doves were used as offerings, particularly for those who could not afford more expensive animals. <a href="/leviticus/1-14.htm">Leviticus 1:14</a> states, "If, however, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon." This provision underscores the dove's role in the sacrificial system, symbolizing purity and atonement.<br><br>3. <b>Song of Solomon</b>: The dove is also mentioned in the poetic and romantic imagery of the Song of Solomon. In <a href="/songs/2-14.htm">Song of Solomon 2:14</a>, the beloved is compared to a dove: "O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely." Here, the dove represents beauty, gentleness, and love.<br><br><b>New Testament References</b><br><br>1. <b>Baptism of Jesus</b>: One of the most significant appearances of the dove in the New Testament is at the baptism of Jesus. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus in the form of a dove, as recorded in <a href="/matthew/3-16.htm">Matthew 3:16</a>: "As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him." This event marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and signifies the presence and approval of God.<br><br>2. <b>Symbol of Innocence</b>: Jesus uses the imagery of the dove to instruct His disciples in <a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Matthew 10:16</a>: "Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." The dove here symbolizes innocence and purity, qualities that Jesus encourages His followers to embody.<br><br><b>Symbolism and Interpretation</b><br><br>Throughout the Bible, the dove is a multifaceted symbol. It represents peace, as seen in the account of Noah; purity and atonement, as reflected in the sacrificial laws; and the presence of the Holy Spirit, as demonstrated at Jesus' baptism. The dove's gentle and innocent nature is also highlighted in the teachings of Jesus, serving as a model for Christian conduct.<br><br>The dove's recurring presence in Scripture underscores its importance as a symbol of divine interaction and spiritual truth. Its role in biblical narratives and teachings continues to inspire and instruct believers in their faith journey.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/d/dove.htm">Dove</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove_of_converts_to_the_church.htm">The Dove of Converts to the Church</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove_of_mourners.htm">The Dove of Mourners</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove_of_the_church.htm">The Dove of the Church</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove_of_the_holy_spirit.htm">The Dove of the Holy Spirit</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove_of_the_meekness_of_christ.htm">The Dove of the Meekness of Christ</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--(in_its_flight)_of_the_return_of_israel_from_captivity.htm">The Dove: (In Its Flight) of the Return of Israel from Captivity</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--characterised_by_comeliness_of_countenance.htm">The Dove: Characterised by Comeliness of Countenance</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--characterised_by_richness_of_plumage.htm">The Dove: Characterised by Richness of Plumage</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--characterised_by_simplicity.htm">The Dove: Characterised by Simplicity</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--characterised_by_softness_of_eyes.htm">The Dove: Characterised by Softness of Eyes</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--characterised_by_sweetness_of_voice.htm">The Dove: Characterised by Sweetness of Voice</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--clean_and_used_as_food.htm">The Dove: Clean and Used As Food</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--dwells_in_rocks.htm">The Dove: Dwells in Rocks</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--frequents_streams_and_rivers.htm">The Dove: Frequents Streams and Rivers</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--impiously_sold_in_the_court_of_the_temple.htm">The Dove: Impiously Sold in the Court of the Temple</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--mournful_tabering_of,_alluded_to.htm">The Dove: Mournful Tabering of, Alluded To</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--offered_in_sacrifice.htm">The Dove: Offered in Sacrifice</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--sent_from_the_ark_by_noah.htm">The Dove: Sent from the Ark by Noah</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--the_harbinger_of_spring.htm">The Dove: The Harbinger of Spring</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/ttt/t/the_dove--why_considered_the_emblem_of_peace.htm">The Dove: Why Considered the Emblem of Peace</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--burnt_offering_of.htm">Turtle Dove: Burnt offering of</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--domesticated.htm">Turtle Dove: Domesticated</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--harmlessness_of,_typical_of_christ's_gentleness.htm">Turtle Dove: Harmlessness of, Typical of Christ's Gentleness</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--market_for,_in_the_temple.htm">Turtle Dove: Market For, in the Temple</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--nests_of.htm">Turtle Dove: Nests of</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--prescribed_for_purification_of_lepers.htm">Turtle Dove: Prescribed for Purification of Lepers</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--prescribed_for_purification_of_nazarites.htm">Turtle Dove: Prescribed for Purification of Nazarites</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--prescribed_for_purification_of_women.htm">Turtle Dove: Prescribed for Purification of Women</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--sacrificial_uses_of.htm">Turtle Dove: Sacrificial Uses of</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--sent_out_from_the_ark_by_noah.htm">Turtle Dove: Sent out from the Ark by Noah</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--sin_offering,_for_those_who_touched_any_dead_body.htm">Turtle Dove: Sin offering, for Those Who Touched Any Dead Body</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--symbolical_of_the_holy_spirit.htm">Turtle Dove: Symbolical of the Holy Spirit</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/turtle_dove--trespass_offering_of,_for_the_impecunious.htm">Turtle Dove: Trespass offering of, for the Impecunious</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/turtle.htm">Turtle (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pigeon.htm">Pigeon (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/dove.htm">Dove (27 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/turtle-dove.htm">Turtle-dove (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/purifying.htm">Purifying (17 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/ram.htm">Ram (96 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/purification.htm">Purification (25 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/crane.htm">Crane (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/female.htm">Female (95 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stork.htm">Stork (6 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/elamites.htm">Elamites (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/completed.htm">Completed (109 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/flowers.htm">Flowers (42 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/g/goat.htm">Goat (92 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/elam.htm">Elam (24 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/singing.htm">Singing (65 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/swallow.htm">Swallow (38 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fulfilled.htm">Fulfilled (143 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/heifer.htm">Heifer (22 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/meeting.htm">Meeting (323 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/appear.htm">Appear (111 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lamb.htm">Lamb (124 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/burnt.htm">Burnt (392 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/congregation.htm">Congregation (347 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/daughter.htm">Daughter (320 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/t/the_doubter.htm" 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