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Bible Dictionaries
Dove
People's Dictionary of the Bible
or Dove. A clean bird in the Mosiac law sent out by Noah. Genesis 8:8; Genesis 8:12. The Hebrew word yonah includes the various varieties of doves and pigeons found in Palestine, excepting turtle-doves, called tôr. There are very many allusions to this bird, for its beauty of plumage, Psalms 68:13, its simpleness, Hosea 7:11, its harmlessness, Matthew 10:16, etc., so that it even symbolizes the Holy Spirit, the meekness, purity, and splendor of righteousness. Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32. Doves are frequently domesticated in the east. Pigeons and turtle-doves might, alone of birds, be offered in sacrifice; full-grown turtle-doves in pairs, but only the young of pigeons. Leviticus 1:14; Leviticus 6:7; Leviticus 6:11; Leviticus 12:6-8. They were the offering of the poorer classes; hence made by Mary. Luke 2:24. And on this account it was that those who sold doves established themselves in the precincts of the temple. Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; John 2:14-16.
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Rice, Edwin Wilbur, DD. Entry for 'Dove'. People's Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/rpd/d/dove.html. 1893.
