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The Olive Leaf – the Dove Carrying Peace in her Mouth
The origin of the ‘dove and olive leaf’ as a symbol of peace
N. Lieberman 19/10/2009 09:00
The image of a dove with an olive leaf in its mouth is one of the most commonly-used symbols of peace in the world. The origin of this symbol is in the story of the dove of Noah from over four thousand years ago; after having been sent out by Noah from the Ark, it returned with an olive leaf in its mouth. As it says in the Chumash, Bereishis chapter 8 verse 11; “and the dove returned to him towards evening, and behold; an olive leaf was clutched in its mouth.”
The adoption of this image of the dove and olive leaf as a symbol of peace owes to the fact that, by returning with the olive leaf in its mouth, the dove signalled to Noah that the Flood was over and the waters had already mostly receded. Since olive trees do not grow tall but remain closer to the ground than other trees, Noah understood that the floodwaters were already drying up, since the dove could already access an olive leaf. The receding of the floodwaters indicated that the time of HaShem’s wrath against mankind had passed.
Thus the twin motif of the dove and the olive leaf together are used in the modern world to represent peace and tranquillity. The olive leaf has been incorporated into one of the symbols of the state of Israel, as an expression of the aspiration and hope of its people to live in peace and tranquillity upon its land.
The adoption of this image of the dove and olive leaf as a symbol of peace owes to the fact that, by returning with the olive leaf in its mouth, the dove signalled to Noah that the Flood was over and the waters had already mostly receded. Since olive trees do not grow tall but remain closer to the ground than other trees, Noah understood that the floodwaters were already drying up, since the dove could already access an olive leaf. The receding of the floodwaters indicated that the time of HaShem’s wrath against mankind had passed.
Thus the twin motif of the dove and the olive leaf together are used in the modern world to represent peace and tranquillity. The olive leaf has been incorporated into one of the symbols of the state of Israel, as an expression of the aspiration and hope of its people to live in peace and tranquillity upon its land.
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