What did the dove bring back to Noah in its beak after its second release?

After its second release, the dove brought Noah an olive leaf in its beak. Genesis 8 uses this return as evidence that the floodwaters had receded enough for vegetation to appear above the water.

The dove had first been released and returned because it could not find a place to rest. Noah waited seven days and sent it out again; this time it came back with a freshly plucked olive leaf. After another seven days, Noah released it once more, and it did not return.

The olive branch or leaf later became a widespread symbol of peace, although that broader symbolism draws on several ancient traditions and is not limited to the Flood story. The biblical passage itself uses the leaf as a practical sign that the earth was drying.

The story’s bird sequence matters: Genesis names the raven first, then the dove. Artistic retellings frequently emphasize the dove and olive leaf together, making them among the most recognizable images associated with Noah’s Ark.