In Genesis, the dove brought Noah an olive leaf as a sign that the Flood waters had receded.
Noah first sent out a raven, then sent a dove to test whether the waters had fallen from the earth. The dove returned because it found nowhere to land. After seven more days, Noah sent it out again, and it came back in the evening carrying a freshly plucked olive leaf.
The leaf showed that vegetation had reappeared above the waterline. Noah waited another seven days before sending the dove out once more; this time, it did not return. The sequence is part of Genesis 8 and leads to Noah removing the ark’s covering when the ground had dried.
The olive leaf is often confused with a branch or a generic green leaf. The biblical wording specifically identifies it as an olive leaf, making it an enduring symbol of peace and renewal in later art and literature.