In Genesis, what object did the dove bring Noah after the Flood waters receded?

In Genesis, the dove brought Noah a freshly plucked olive leaf after the Flood waters receded.

Genesis 8 describes Noah sending a dove from the Ark to see whether the waters had gone down. On its second flight, the dove returned in the evening with an olive leaf in its beak. Noah understood this as evidence that vegetation had reappeared and that the land was becoming suitable for life.

The detail is distinct from the dove’s first flight, when it returned without finding a place to rest. On a later flight, the dove did not return, suggesting that dry land was available. These successive tests show the narrative’s gradual transition from catastrophe to restoration.

The dove holding an olive branch became an enduring visual symbol of peace, hope, and reconciliation. Strictly speaking, Genesis says “olive leaf,” while many later artistic versions show an olive branch. The related symbol is therefore rooted in the biblical scene but often simplified in popular imagery.