In the Noah’s Ark story, what did the dove return with after Noah sent it out?

In the Noah’s Ark story, the dove returned with an olive leaf.

Genesis 8 describes Noah sending birds from the ark to discover whether the floodwaters had receded. A raven is sent first, followed later by a dove. On its second outing, the dove returns toward evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf, showing Noah that vegetation had reappeared above the waters.

On a later attempt, the dove does not return, which signals that the land is becoming habitable. The olive leaf therefore functions as a practical sign within the story: it tells Noah that the waters are lower and that plant life has survived or begun to grow.

The image became a widely recognized symbol of peace and hope, although the biblical passage itself focuses on the end of the flood. The phrase “dove and olive branch” is often used loosely; Genesis specifically mentions an olive leaf, while later artistic traditions frequently depict a branch.