According to Genesis, what did Noah’s dove return with after its second flight?

According to Genesis, Noah’s dove returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf after its second flight.

Genesis 8:10–11 says Noah waited seven days before sending the dove again. It returned toward evening with an olive leaf in its beak, showing that the waters had receded enough for vegetation to be visible. Noah waited another seven days and sent the dove a third time; it did not return.

The olive leaf became one of the most recognizable symbols associated with the Flood story. In later art and popular language, a dove carrying an olive branch often represents peace, reconciliation, or hope. Genesis itself specifically describes an olive leaf, not a complete branch.

The episode also illustrates the narrative’s careful use of repeated tests. The raven is sent first, followed by the dove’s three flights. The birds provide signs about the condition of the earth while Noah remains inside the Ark, waiting for a command to leave.