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The Dove as a Symbol of the Holy Spirit

The dove is a significant symbol in biblical tradition, most notably representing the Holy Spirit [3]. This association stems primarily from the New Testament account of Jesus' baptism, where the Holy Spirit is described as descending "in the form of a dove" [3].

Beyond this pivotal event, the dove holds various symbolic meanings throughout scripture. In the Old Testament, Noah sent out a dove from the ark, which returned with an olive leaf, signaling the abatement of the floodwaters and becoming an emblem of peace [1, 2, 11]. This act is sometimes seen as a harbinger of peace [1]. Doves were also considered clean animals under Mosaic law and were acceptable sacrifices, particularly for those who could not afford other offerings [2].

The characteristics of doves often contribute to their symbolic weight. They are described as simple and harmless [1, 5], with a comely countenance, soft eyes, and a sweet voice [1]. Their mournful cooing is also noted [5]. Doves are known for building nests in rock clefts and frequenting streams [1, 2]. The desire for swift flight, like a dove, is expressed in the Psalms [5, 12].

The Holy Spirit, symbolized by the dove, is also represented by other biblical emblems such as water, fire, wind, and oil, each highlighting different aspects of the Spirit's work, including cleansing, fertilizing, purifying, illuminating, and healing [4]. The Spirit's role is further understood as an advocate who counsels and protects believers [6]. The "fruit of the Spirit," which includes goodness, righteousness, and truth, is a key concept in understanding the Spirit's influence on believers [7, 8, 9, 10]. As Calvin noted, believers are like wild olive trees grafted into Christ, who, through the Spirit, enables them to bear fruit [9].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Dove, The — Clean and used as food -- De 14:11. Offered in sacrifice -- Ge 15:9; Le 1:14. Impiously sold in the court of the temple -- Mt 21:12; Joh 2:16. Characterised by Simplicity. -- Mt 10:16. Comeliness of countenance. -- Song 2:14. Softness of eyes. -- Song 1:15. Sweetness of voice. -- Song 2:14. Richness of plumage. -- Ps 68:13. Mournful tabering of, alluded to -- Na 2:7. Dwells in rocks -- Song 2:14; Jer 48:28. Frequents streams and rivers -- Song 5:12. Sent from the ark by Noah -- Ge 8:8,10,12. Why considered the emblem of peace -- Ge 8:11. The harbinger of ”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Dove — In their wild state doves generally build their nests in the clefts of rocks, but when domesticated "dove-cots" are prepared for them (Cant. 2:14; Jer. 48:28; Isa. 60:8). The dove was placed on the standards of the Assyrians and Babylonians in honour, it is supposed, of Semiramis (Jer. 25:38; Vulg., "fierceness of the dove;" comp. Jer. 46:16; 50:16). Doves and turtle-doves were the only birds that could be offered in sacrifice, as they were clean according to the Mosaic law (Ge. 15:9; Lev. 5:7; 12:6; Luke 2:24). The dove was the harbinger of peace to Noah (Gen”
  3. Luke “Luke 3:22 (BBE) — The Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Emblems of the Holy Spirit, The — Water -- Joh 3:5; 7:38,39. Cleansing. -- Eze 16:9; 36:25; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22. Fertilising. -- Ps 1:3; Isa 27:3,6; 44:3,4; 58:11. Refreshing. -- Ps 46:4; Isa 41:17,18. Abundant. -- Joh 7:37,38. Freely given. -- Isa 55:1; Joh 4:14; Re 22:17. Fire Purifying. -- Isa 4:4; Mal 3:2,3. Illuminating. -- Ex 13:21; Ps 78:14. Searching. -- Zep 1:12; 1Co 2:10. Wind Independent. -- Joh 3:8; 1Co 12:11. Powerful. -- 1Ki 19:11; Ac 2:2. Sensible in its effects. -- Joh 3:8. Reviving. -- Eze 37:9,10,14. Oil -- Ps 45:7. Healing. -- Lu 10:34; Re 3:18. Co”
  5. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dove — The first menton of this bird occurs in Gen. 8. The dove's rapidity of flight is alluded to in (Psalms 55:6) the beauty of its plumage in (Psalms 68:13) its dwelling int he rocks and valleys in (Jeremiah 48:28) and Ezek 7:16 Its mournful voice in (Isaiah 38:14; 59:11; Nahum 2:7) its harmlessness in (Matthew 10:16) its simplicity in (Hosea 7:11) and its amativeness in (Song of Solomon 1:15; 2:14) Doves are kept in a domesticated state in many parts of the East. In Persia pigeon-houses are erected at a distance from the dwellings, for the purpose of collecting th”
  6. John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 15:26: 15:26 But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth: Like a legal advocate, the Holy Spirit counsels and protects Jesus’ followers.”
  7. Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit - Both flesh - the sinful dispositions of the human heart and spirit - the changed or purified state of the soul, by the grace and Spirit of God, are represented by the apostle as trees, one yielding good the other bad fruit; the productions of each being according to the nature of the tree, as the tree is according to the nature of the seed from which it sprung. The bad seed produced a bad tree, yielding all manner of bad fruit; the good seed produced a good tree, bringing forth fruits of the most excellent kind. The tree of the flesh”
  8. Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:8: For the fruit of the Spirit,.... Either of the spirit of man, as renewed, or rather of the Spirit of God; the allusion is to fruits of trees: the believer is a tree of righteousness; Christ is his root; the Spirit is the sap, which supports and nourishes; and good works, under the influence of his grace, are the fruit: the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read "the fruit of light"; which agrees with the preceding words: and the genuine fruit of internal grace, or light, is in all goodness, and righteousness, ”
  9. Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 1:11: The oldest manuscripts read the singular, "fruit." So Gal 5:22 (see on Gal 5:22); regarding the works of righteousness, however manifold, as one harmonious whole, "the fruit of the Spirit" (Eph 5:9) Jam 3:18, "the fruit of righteousness" (Heb 12:11); Rom 6:22, "fruit unto holiness." which are--"which is by (Greek, 'through') Jesus Christ." Through His sending to us the Spirit from the Father. "We are wild and useless olive trees till we are grafted into Christ, who, by His living root, makes us fruit-bearing branches" [CALVIN].”
  10. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:9: fruit of the Spirit--taken by transcribers from Gal 5:22. The true reading is that of the oldest manuscripts, "The fruit of THE LIGHT"; in contrast with "the unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph 5:11). This verse is parenthetic. Walk as children of light, that is, in all good works and words, "FOR the fruit of the light is [borne] in [ALFORD; but BENGEL, 'consists in'] all goodness [opposed to 'malice,' Eph 4:31], righteousness [opposed to 'covetousness,' Eph 5:3] and truth [opposed to 'lying,' Eph 4:25]."”
  11. Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 8:8: Also he sent forth a dove from him,.... Seven days after he had sent out the raven, as in Gen 8:10. to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; for the dove is a creature that delights in cleanness, flies low, and goes far off, so that if it returned not again, he might conclude that the waters were gone off the earth; but being a sociable creature, and familiar to men, and especially loving to its mate, if they were not gone off, it would certainly return again. This some take to be an emblem of the Gospel, bringing the good tidings of peace, ”
  12. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 55:6: And I said, oh that I had wings like a dove,.... The psalmist pitches upon this creature, partly to suggest that his enemies pursuing him were like the ravenous hawk, and he like the harmless, innocent, and trembling dove; and partly because of its swiftness in flying. Aben Ezra thinks the dove is mentioned, because it is sociable with men, and who send letters by them for quick dispatch, of which instances may be given (r). This wish is expressed suitably to his character and case. The church is sometimes compared to a dove for its innocence, modesty, chastity, purit”
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