Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 26, 2024
The dove is an animal that has a very strong symbolic power. But if you are wondering what this symbolism means from a biblical point of view, we can help you find the answer.
The dove's whiteness already says a lot about itself. Sometimes it is depicted with a kind of twig in its beak. In any case, it has an important symbolic aspect, especially if we refer to the Bible.
In this article, you will discover:
- The dove: a symbol of peace
- The emblem of Christ
- The dove: a symbol of the Holy Spirit
- A symbol that has marked entire generations
Without further ado, let’s discover the biblical meaning of the dove.
The dove: a symbol of peace
The dove has been associated with peace, especially because of the way it was mentioned in the Old Testament with the story of Noah's Ark. Humans behaved more and more badly, and that is why God decided to condemn them with the Flood. Noah was the only one who obtained mercy. God therefore ordered him to build an ark to accommodate all species of animals and his family. After the waters had completely covered the landscape, Noah released a raven to see if there was a dry place somewhere on which they could land, but without success. Later, he decided to send a white dove, but this one also returned. After seven days, Noah repeated the experiment. But this time, the animal returned with an olive branch. Since the plant in the bird's beak was still fresh, it was possible to deduce that the earth was finally free of water. Seven days later he released the dove again, but it never returned. The Flood was over and peace had returned to the earth.
This story is very evocative. The raven, the black bird, does not announce any hope. It is the dove and its pure whiteness that bring the first sign of life to Noah. Thus, this white bird was chosen to symbolize peace, and it has continued to mark the spirits in this way.
The emblem of Christ
Christianity (in its early days) was strongly influenced by the cults of antiquity and the images of fidelity and gentleness (inherited from the Bible in ancient times). Indeed, we have been able to find representations of doves on the walls of the catacombs that adorn the tombs of martyrs, as well as on very ancient liturgical objects.
The image of the dove bringing an olive branch in its beak always evokes peace. However, this concept will gradually be abandoned in favor of a new one. In early Christianity, the dove became the emblem of Christ. The latter came to earth to bring peace to men of good faith and good will. This image is strongly anchored among the first Christians. All the more so since the olive branch symbolizes the glorious peace conferred by Christ on the deceased.
Here, even if the ideas of hope and expectation persist, Jesus has taken an important place in the symbolism. In the New Testament, the dove therefore takes on a slightly more pronounced aspect. Even if it conveys more or less the same idea, it is apprehended in a different way.
The dove: a symbol of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of Christ is one of the other episodes where the dove marked the event with its presence. While John the Baptist performed the gestures of purification and while Jesus gently rose to the surface of the Jordan, a dove is said to have come upon them. The Gospel of Matthew gives more details on this subject. But we will remember that the descent of the Spirit of God was accompanied by a visible symbol, namely the coming of the dove. From then on, the Holy Spirit was invariably associated with the pure and clean white of the winged animal. This divine inspiration ended up inhabiting all the faithful.
Nowadays, the Catholic Church often asks newly elected popes to pose next to a representation of a dove . This is the case, for example, of Saint Fabian and the great inspired saints (such as Hilary or Gregory the Great).
A symbol that has marked entire generations
The symbolism of the dove has not only marked Christianity for several generations, but it has also inspired many artists who have constantly perpetuated this image. We generally detect a feeling of peace when we are faced with a work where a dove is represented. This is, for example, the case when we contemplate Picasso's fabulous dove. Moreover, the communists instrumentalized this figure during the Cold War.
According to the eminent poet Saint John Perse, birds would be living vestiges of the song of creation. The painter Marc Chagall put this idea in mind when he created his work with the dove of the ark. The purifying whiteness of the animal contrasted with the black background of disappearance cannot leave anyone indifferent. In a more classical register, we can evoke the basilica of Saint Peter in Rome. We can see there the representation of a radiant dove, irradiated by a divine light that seems to touch all the faithful who look at it.
In all artistic works, the dove is represented in such a way that the lightness and purity of the animal are clearly highlighted. Even if we try to get out of the biblical context, the symbolism of the dove cannot be dissociated from it. Indeed, the image that we have of it today finds its origins in the Bible. And it is this same representation that is currently used, even in sectors that do not belong to Christianity.
Now you know what the dove really represents. You know that it has been mentioned several times in the Bible , in the Old and New Testaments. You know the influence it has had on past generations.
If you would like to know more facts about the Bible like this, we invite you to visit our site. We have other texts that are highly likely to interest you, such as our article on the meaning of the word Amen .
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