Translations
Modern
And behold, the dove returned to him in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in her beak. So Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.
Traditional
And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
Literal
And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth. And Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.
Latin
At illa venit ad eum ad vesperam, portans ramum olivæ virentibus foliis in ore suo: intellexit ergo Noë quod cessassent aquæ super terram.
Original
Hebrew
English
And behold, the dove returned to him in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in her beak. So Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.
Notes
Unlike the raven (8:7), the dove eats plants. Olive trees are short, so Noah knew the water was almost gone.
Theme notes and profiles
Events
- The Great Floodc. 2348 BC
- The flood subsidesc. 2347 BC
People
Noah: Righteous man, built ark, survived flood
Glossary
Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Genesis, Book of God, Names of Land Mesopotamia Noah Patriarchs, Period of the Pigeon The Flood
Topics
Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Evening Olive: Branch of, Brought by the Dove to Noah's Ark The Dove: Why Considered the Emblem of Peace The Olive-Tree: Probably Origin of Its Being the Emblem of Peace Turtle Dove: Sent out from the Ark by Noah