According to Genesis, the dove brought Noah a freshly plucked olive leaf.
Genesis 8:11 says the dove returned in the evening with an olive leaf in its beak. Noah understood this as evidence that the waters had receded from the earth. The event is one of the most recognizable scenes in the ark story and is frequently represented in art, children’s books, and religious imagery.
The text says “olive leaf,” not a branch or a general green plant. The detail is significant because it indicates that vegetation had reappeared or remained accessible above the waterline. In later symbolism, the dove and olive branch became associated with peace, reconciliation, and hope.
The dove’s return with the leaf came after Noah’s first release of a raven. Noah later released the dove again, and it did not return, showing that it had found a place to land. These separate details are sometimes compressed into a single scene.