Animals of the Bible · Sky · Birds
The Dove
The messenger of peace on earth and the picture of the gentleness of the Holy Spirit
Discovered in your collection
- Key verse
- Matthew 3:16
- Where it lived
- The flowering valleys of Galilee, the olive trees of Gethsemane and the courts of the Temple
- What it reminds us of
- Heavenly peace, reconciliation, purity and the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit
Stories from Scripture
The Dove in the stories of the Bible
Noah and his family
The dove with the olive leaf from Noah’s ark
After many months of flood, Noah sent a dove out of the ark to see whether the waters had gone down. In the evening the bird came back with a fresh olive leaf in its beak — God’s sign that life was being born again and that peace was settling on the earth once more.
Genesis 8:8-12Jesus and John the Baptist
The baptism of the Lord Jesus in the Jordan
When Jesus was baptized and came up out of the waters of the Jordan, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God came down upon Him like a white dove, while the Father’s voice rang out: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:16-17The disciples of Jesus
Gentle as doves in the midst of the world
When He sent His disciples out to tell the Gospel, Jesus gave them a piece of wise advice: “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves,” teaching us to bring peace and purity wherever we go.
Matthew 10:16
Wonders of Creation
Did you know?
Doves form faithful pairs for life and look after their young with remarkable tenderness.
They have an extraordinary sense of direction and can find their way home from hundreds of kilometers away, guided by the sun and the earth’s magnetism.
Their flight is fast and graceful, reaching speeds of up to 90 km/h when they travel through wide valleys.
What the dove teaches us
Be a bringer of peace in your family and among your friends
The dove harms no one and brings news of hope. God calls us to be people of peace, who put an end to quarrels and bring comfort and joy.
How we can live this out today
When you see two friends or brothers and sisters arguing, help them make peace with kind words. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Mini-Quiz
What did you learn about the dove?
What was the dove holding in its beak when it came back to Noah’s ark in the evening?
For parents and children
At home and in Sunday school
A question for parents and children
How can we be “peacemakers” in our home? What words can we use to bring calm when someone is upset?
“Lord, fill my heart with Your gentle and loving Spirit. Make me a messenger of Your peace and joy to everyone around me! Amen.”