HOLY SPIRIT SYMBOLS Holy Spirit Symbols One of the Holy Spirit symbols is the dove and the symbol of the dove is love. With its tender cooing, which is the mating song of the male and its well-known faithfulness to its mate, the turtle dove has always been regarded by poets as a symbol of affection. But this characteristic is really present in all birds, especially other doves and pigeons. The turtle dove is smaller than the pigeon and is more agile and better able to escape its predators. This bird is very systematic in the way it spends its time. It wakes at dawn and hunts for food, which consists of a few mollusks and the seeds of wild plants. At about 10 o’clock it comes back to its nest for a rest. It goes out to feed again in the afternoon and returns at dusk. Twice a day it finds fresh water to drink. The mating season begins in May. The male’s nuptial display consists of flying into the air and strutting around to show off his plumage. Male and female are together constantly at this time. The nest, built by both birds, is lightly made of dry twigs. And both birds take turns at incubating the pure white eggs. There are many species of dove, differing in habitat and plumage. The reddish turtle dove nests in Europe, northern Africa and weatern Asia. The ground dove is found in Mexico, the United Gulf Ststes and the west Indies. There are also the white-winged dove of South America and the rock dove of Africa. Other species occur across Eurasia to Japan. A symbol of peace, that description probably came from the scripture: Genesis 8:11 (after the flood) …and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth (the dove) and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. The dove is mentioned I believe ten times in the Bible. Even Jesus mentions it in Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” When the Holy Spirit descended (like a dove) on Jesus it symbolized the gentleness, purity and guilelessness of the Holy Spirit. The dove also symbolizes innocence and meekness and it was offered in sacrifice (Lev. 12:6; 14:22; Luke 2:24) for the poor. As one of the Holy Spirit symbols is the dove, so is one of Jesus’ symbols the Lamb. The gentle, innocent and meek Jesus would be a sacrifice for sin.
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