How many times did Noah send out a dove?

The story of Noah’s Ark is one of the most iconic tales in the Bible, cherished for its themes of faith, obedience, and renewal. Among its many memorable moments is the episode where Noah sends out birds to determine if the floodwaters had receded from the earth. While many remember the raven and the dove, fewer recall the exact number of times Noah sent out the dove and the significance of each attempt.

The Context: Noah and the Flood

In the Book of Genesis, chapters 6 to 9, the story of Noah unfolds. God, disheartened by human wickedness, decides to send a great flood to cleanse the earth. Noah, described as righteous and blameless, is instructed to build an ark to save himself, his family, and pairs of every kind of animal. After many days and nights of rain, the earth is submerged beneath floodwaters. Eventually, the rain stops, but it takes months for the waters to subside sufficiently for life to return to normal.

The Sending of the Birds

After the ark comes to rest on the mountains of Ararat, Noah begins to seek signs that it is safe to leave the ark. According to Genesis 8:6-12, Noah first sends out a raven, which “kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth.” The raven’s behavior offers little information, so Noah turns to another bird: the dove.

The First Sending: The Dove Returns

The first time Noah sends out the dove, it cannot find a resting place because the waters still cover the earth. Genesis 8:9 states, “But the dove found no place to set its feet because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark.” This initial attempt shows that the floodwaters had not yet receded enough to reveal dry land.

The Second Sending: The Olive Leaf

Seven days later, Noah sends the dove out again. This time, the dove returns in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. Genesis 8:11 reads, “Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.” The olive leaf is a powerful symbol—not only does it indicate the presence of vegetation, but it also heralds hope and renewal after a time of destruction.

The Third Sending: The Dove Does Not Return

Noah waits another seven days before sending the dove out a third time. This time, the dove does not return. Genesis 8:12 records, “He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.” The absence of the dove’s return signals that the earth is now habitable, and life can begin anew outside the ark.

Conclusion: The Significance of the Dove’s Journeys

In total, Noah sent out the dove three times. Each sending carried its own meaning: the first showed the world was still uninhabitable; the second brought a sign of hope; the third confirmed that restoration was complete. This sequence not only provides a practical account of post-flood discovery but also serves as a metaphor for perseverance, faith, and the gradual return of hope after calamity. The story of Noah’s dove reminds us that even after the darkest storms, signs of renewal and new beginnings will eventually appear.