“And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.” – Genesis 8:11
Bible Verses About Doves
Genesis 1:20 – God created birds and called them to fill the sky.
“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.” – Genesis 1:20
Matthew 10:16 – Being wise and innocent in our behavior.
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” – Matthew 10:16
Luke 3:22 – The Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove.
“And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” – Luke 3:22
Isaiah 60:8 – Doves are associated with the return of God’s people.
“Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?” – Isaiah 60:8
Song of Solomon 2:12 – Nature’s beauty reflects the doves’ presence.
“The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.” – Song of Solomon 2:12
John 1:32 – The testimony of John regarding Jesus.
“And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.” – John 1:32
Genesis 8:8 – The dove sent from the ark.
“Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground.” – Genesis 8:8
Luke 11:12 – Doves are considered valuable and precious.
“Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” – Luke 11:12
Psalms 55:6 – The longing for peace depicted through doves.
“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.” – Psalms 55:6
Matthew 21:12 – The temple being purified by Jesus.
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves.” – Matthew 21:12
Mark 1:10 – The Spirit descends like a dove at Jesus’ baptism.
“And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him.” – Mark 1:10
Jeremiah 48:28 – Doves are mentioned as a image of desolation.
“O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole’s mouth.” – Jeremiah 48:28
Matthew 5:9 – The blessed called peacemakers as doves.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9
Hosea 7:11 – Doves represent foolishness and weakness.
“Ephraim is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.” – Hosea 7:11
Isaiah 59:11 – The mourning of doves portrayed in struggling times.
“We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.” – Isaiah 59:11
Matthew 10:29 – Doves symbolize God’s care for His creations.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” – Matthew 10:29
Deuteronomy 14:11 – Doves classified as clean for food.
“Of all clean birds ye shall eat.” – Deuteronomy 14:11
Luke 2:24 – Doves offered as sacrifices for consecration.
“And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” – Luke 2:24
Psalms 116:13 – Doves signify trust in God.
“I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.” – Psalms 116:13
1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love defined through kindness as perceived by doves.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
John 14:27 – Peace given by Jesus compares to the gentleness of doves.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27
Psalms 68:13 – Doves symbolize the embrace of God’s protection.
“Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” – Psalms 68:13
Matthew 4:24 – Doves represent healing and restoration.
“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils: and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.” – Matthew 4:24
1 Peter 3:4 – A gentle spirit compared to a dove’s nature.
“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” – 1 Peter 3:4
Genesis 9:12 – A sign of God’s covenant through the dove.
“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations.” – Genesis 9:12
Final Thoughts
As I explored these Bible verses about doves, it became clear how significant these birds are throughout scripture. They symbolize peace, love, and the Holy Spirit, illustrating the beauty of God’s creation. We remember that just like the dove, we are called to be peacemakers and gentle in our interactions. By understanding the symbolism of doves, I am reminded of our own responsibility to reflect kindness and love in our lives. In our journey of faith, let us strive to embody the qualities these beautiful creatures represent. They can encourage us to maintain our faith and remind us of the peace God provides.
If you’re interested in learning more about subjects like peacemaking or the Holy Spirit, check out our other topics like leading others to Christ or communication with others. There’s always more to explore and grow in our faith!