According to Genesis, how many times did Noah send the dove out of the Ark?

According to Genesis, Noah sent the dove out of the Ark three times.

Genesis 8 first says that Noah sent out a raven. He then sent a dove to see whether the waters had receded from the ground. The dove returned because it found nowhere to rest, so Noah waited seven days and sent it out again. It returned that evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf.

After another seven days, Noah sent the dove out a third time. It did not return, indicating that the land had become suitable for the bird. The sequence is distinct from the raven episode and is part of the narrative’s careful description of the waters falling.

The olive leaf is often treated as a general symbol of peace, but in Genesis its immediate function is practical: it gives Noah evidence that vegetation has reappeared. Noah still waited before leaving the Ark until God instructed him to do so.