dove

A small bird of the Columbidae family. Three varieties of the small species of pigeon identified as a “turtledove” are known in Palestine. Noah uses doves to determine if the Flood has subsided (Gen 8:8-12). (Lev 12:8) prescribes the offering of a pair of doves or two young pigeons to purify the mother after childbirth if the family can not afford a lamb. Doves for such offerings were sold in the Temple court (Mark 11:15; John 2:14). Mary makes this offering after the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:4). The stories of Jesus’s baptism all describe the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus “like a dove” (Mark 1:10; Matt 3:16; Luke 3:22; John 1:32).