In Genesis, Noah sent a dove to find dry land after the floodwaters receded.
Genesis 8 describes Noah using a dove to test whether the waters had gone down from the surface of the earth. The first time, the dove returned because it found no place to rest. After seven days, Noah sent it again, and it returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf.
A third release produced a different result: the dove did not return. Together, these flights gave Noah evidence that the land was becoming habitable. The bird was not sent to locate survivors, gather food, or search for a water source.
The olive leaf later became a widely recognized symbol of peace and renewal, although Genesis presents it first as practical evidence that the floodwaters were receding. The passage therefore combines a survival test with an image that acquired broader cultural meaning.