

Because of this representation, the dove as a symbol of hope and peace gained more prominence. One day, Jesus came to be baptized and when he did, the Bible records that the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus “like a dove.” Each mention of this occurrence is clear that it was not an actual dove that descended, but ever since that time, the dove became a symbol of the spirit of God. Those who wanted to make a public demonstration of renewal and rededication to doing right and good in their lives were baptized by John. John, Jesus’ cousin, preached a message that called people to repentance from misdeeds and wrong living. Not only did the dove become a symbol of hope and new life after this event, the olive branch became a symbol of peace as well. Noah and his family knew the waters had fully receded and, just like the dove, it was time to start life on land once more. The final time he sent the dove out, it didn’t return. At this point, Noah and his family knew that the waters had receded enough that plants and trees were growing and it was almost time to leave the boat. This time, the dove returned with an olive leaf in its beak. The first time the dove went out, it returned without finding any land. So, using an old mariner’s trick, Noah sent a dove to see if it would find dry ground. After 40 days and nights, the flood finally stopped but there was no dry land anywhere around.Īs Noah and his family waited for the floodwaters to recede, they had little way of knowing when the ground was dry enough to go out. In the Old Testament book of Genesis, Noah was instructed to build a boat and, once inside, he and his family were saved from rising floodwaters. Two specific mentions in the Bible gave rise to the prominence of the dove as a symbol of help and hope. The dove is also a symbol of hope, largely due to its role in Christian scriptures.

» MORE: Are you expecting a loss soon? Become a member for personalized support. The famous painting by Pablo Picasso has become one of the most widely recognized paintings of peace and mourning dove symbolism ever since. In fact, by the mid-20th century, the dove became so symbolic of peace, it was chosen as the symbol for the First International Peace Conference in Paris in 1949. However, doves of all kinds are used to represent peace, especially when pictured with an olive branch in their beaks or talons. Traditionally, the white feather meaning ties in most closely with peace, purity, and hope. Though this is most often assigned to the classic white dove, doves in general have long served as a symbol of peace. After the traditional white peace dove, mourning doves are mentioned more than any other type of dove in everything from literature to spiritual texts and lore. Though there are many types of doves, mourning doves seem to have caught the imagination and attention of people everywhere. The mourning dove, a bird commonly seen throughout the world, frequently makes an entrance into culture, stories, legends, and belief systems.
