The dove is a powerful symbol in Scripture, reminding us of peace and God’s Spirit. Today, we’ll explore its meaning and lessons for our lives.
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What Does The Bible Say About Dove
Genesis 8:8-12
“Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.”
This passage tells of Noah sending out a dove to investigate whether the floodwaters had subsided. The dove returning with an olive leaf indicated to Noah that the water had receded, bringing hope and a sign of new life after the devastation of the flood.
It serves as a reminder that even in the midst of difficult circumstances, God provides signs of hope and restoration. The dove symbolizes peace and deliverance, offering comfort and reassurance that God is faithful to His promises.
Psalm 55:6
“I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”
In this verse, the psalmist expresses a longing for peace and rest, desiring to escape from his troubles. The image of the dove’s wings represents a desire for freedom and tranquility.
It speaks to the human yearning for a refuge from the burdens of life and a reminder that true rest can be found in God. Just as a dove finds safety in its nest, we can find solace and renewal in God’s presence.
Matthew 3:16
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.”
During Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove. This event signifies the anointing and empowering of Jesus for His ministry on earth.
The dove symbolizes purity and the presence of the Holy Spirit. It marks a significant moment of divine approval and the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, emphasizing His role as the Messiah and Savior of the world.
Song of Solomon 5:2
“I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.'”
In this poetic passage, the beloved is portrayed as a dove knocking on the door, seeking intimacy and closeness with the beloved. It reveals the deep longing for union and intimacy in a loving relationship.
God often uses the imagery of a dove to symbolize His affection and desire for communion with His people. He invites us into a relationship of love, and this verse encourages us to open our hearts to God’s loving pursuit.
Isaiah 38:14
“I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!”
The mourning dove is known for its melancholic cooing and is often associated with grief and sorrow. In this verse, the author uses the mourning dove’s cry as a metaphor to express distress and a plea for help.
It reflects the human experience of feeling overwhelmed and reaching out to God for deliverance. Just as the mourning dove’s cry is heard, we can trust that God hears our cries in times of trouble and is ready to come to our aid.
Jeremiah 48:28
“Abandon your towns and dwell among the rocks, you who live in Moab. Be like a dove that makes its nest at the mouth of a cave.”
This verse speaks of a call for the people of Moab to seek refuge and safety in the midst of impending destruction. The dove’s nest represents a place of shelter and protection.
It serves as a reminder that in times of chaos and uncertainty, we can find security and peace by seeking refuge in God. Just as the dove finds safety in its nest, we can find our refuge in the presence of God.
Lamentations 1:6
“All the splendor has departed from Daughter Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; in weakness, they have fled before the pursuer.”
In this verse, the image of a deer without pasture signifies the desperate state of the people of Zion. They have lost their glory and are fleeing from their enemies.
It represents a time of great distress and vulnerability, similar to the mourning dove’s defenselessness against its pursuer. However, it also points to the need for the people to turn back to God, seeking refuge and restoration in Him.
Ezekiel 7:16
“Those who survive will escape and be on the mountains, like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, each for their own sins.”
In this verse, the surviving remnant of Israel is described as mourning and repenting of their sins. The comparison to mourning doves emphasizes the sincerity and heartfelt nature of their repentance.
It signifies genuine remorse and a turning away from wrongdoing. Just as mourning doves mourn with a sorrowful cry, the people of Israel mourn for their sins in a desire for spiritual restoration and reconciliation with God.
Hosea 7:11
“Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless—now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.”
In this verse, Ephraim (representing the northern kingdom of Israel) is compared to a dove. It highlights their propensity to be easily swayed and deceived, constantly seeking alliances with foreign powers for security.
It serves as a cautionary reminder of the dangers of relying on human strength instead of trusting in God. Like a dove that flutters from place to place, we are called to place our trust and allegiance in God alone.
Jonah 4:6-7
“Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.”
In the book of Jonah, God provides a plant to shelter Jonah from the scorching sun. The plant brings Jonah great joy and relief from his discomfort. However, God sends a worm to destroy the plant, leaving Jonah exposed.
It serves as a lesson in God’s sovereignty and our need to trust in His plans. Like the dove that found temporary shelter in the plant, our happiness should not be dependent on earthly blessings but on our steadfast faith in God.
Matthew 10:16
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Jesus, in addressing His disciples, encourages them to be wise and discerning in their interactions with the world. He compares them to doves, emphasizing the importance of maintaining innocence and purity.
The call to be innocent as doves highlights the importance of maintaining integrity and moral uprightness, even in the midst of opposition or hostility. It serves as a reminder to hold firm to the values of the Kingdom of God, while also exercising wisdom and discernment.
Mark 1:10
“Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.”
A parallel account to Matthew 3:16, this verse describes the moment of Jesus’ baptism where the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the form of a dove. It marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and validates His identity as the Son of God.
The dove symbolizes the presence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, equipping Jesus for His mission on earth. It serves as a powerful image of divine anointing and the inauguration of Jesus’ transformative work.
Luke 2:24
“and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”
In this verse, Mary and Joseph fulfill the requirement of the Law by offering a pair of doves or two young pigeons as a sacrifice. This act highlights their obedience and faithfulness to God’s commands.
The offering of doves or pigeons symbolizes purity and the dedication of the newborn Jesus to God. It demonstrates the humble and obedient response to God’s call and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies.
John 1:32-33
“Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”’”
John the Baptist bears witness to the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism. He shares his experience of seeing the Spirit descending like a dove, signifying Jesus as the chosen one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
The dove represents divine anointing and empowerment, linking Jesus to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. This verse highlights the unique role of Jesus as the Messiah, who will bring about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 16:16-17
“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.””
In this account, Paul encounters a slave girl with a spirit of divination who follows him and his companions, proclaiming their mission and the way to salvation. The incessant pursuit of the girl is likened to a dove’s constant presence.
It serves as a reminder that bearing witness and proclaiming the good news may sometimes attract opposition or possess false motivations. This verse calls us to discern the spirits and motivations behind those who proclaim the name of God.
Romans 5:5
“And hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
This verse speaks of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers. The Holy Spirit is likened to a dove, a symbol of hope and God’s love that has been poured out into our lives.
It reminds us of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us, comforts us, and guides us in our daily lives. The dove represents the transformative love of God that sustains and brings assurance of our hope in Him.
Revelation 18:2
“With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!” She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.”
In the book of Revelation, Babylon is depicted as a corrupted and fallen city. The reference to unclean birds includes the image of doves, emphasizing the perversion and defilement of the once-honored city.
It serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God and embracing evil. The contrast between the purity and innocence associated with doves and the unclean spirits highlights the tragic state of Babylon’s spiritual condition.
Psalm 74:19
“Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.”
This verse is an appeal to God to protect and preserve His people, represented metaphorically as His dove. It expresses a plea for deliverance and a reminder of God’s compassion towards the suffering and oppressed.
Like a dove vulnerable to wild beasts, God’s people are in need of His divine intervention and safeguarding. The verse underscores the importance of seeking God’s protection in times of trouble and placing our trust in His faithfulness.
Song of Solomon 2:14
“My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.”
In this poetic passage, the lover calls to the beloved, describing her as a dove hiding in the clefts of the rock. The request to see her face and hear her voice symbolizes a desire for intimate communion.
It portrays the longing for deep connection and the beauty of love. Just as the dove finds refuge in the hidden places, we are invited to seek closeness and intimacy with God, revealing our hearts and experiencing His loving presence.
Genesis 15:9
“So the Lord said to him, ‘Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.’”
In this verse, God instructs Abram to bring specific animals for a covenant-making ceremony. Among them are a dove and a young pigeon, signifying purity and innocence.
The dove represents the unspoiled nature of the covenant and emphasizes God’s faithfulness in upholding His promises. It serves as a reminder that God is a covenant-keeping God, desiring to establish an everlasting relationship with His people.
Leviticus 12:6
“When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.”
In this verse, instructions are given for the purification rituals after childbirth. The offering of a pigeon or a dove as a sin offering symbolizes the need for cleansing and atonement.
It represents the acknowledgement of sin and the desire for forgiveness and restoration. The dove is a reminder of God’s mercy and grace, providing a means for reconciliation with Him.
These verses offer a rich tapestry of imagery and symbolism surrounding the dove in the Bible. From the story of Noah’s dove bringing back an olive leaf to Jesus being anointed by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, the dove represents themes of hope, purity, peace, deliverance, and communion with God. It serves as a reminder of God’s presence, faithfulness, and desire for intimate relationship with His people. Whether in times of distress, repentance, or seeking refuge, the dove stands as a powerful symbol pointing us back to the love and protection of our Heavenly Father.