THE STORY OF THE DOVE AND THE RAVEN

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Genesis 8:6-12 “And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

Matthew 3:16 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.”

Genesis 8:6-12 is the story of two birds realease by Noah from the Ark. They are the Raven and the Dove. This symbolism points to a deeper spiritual truth about the two natures of every believer. There are two birds in us: the Dove and the Raven. In Matthew 3:16, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, representing purity and peace. The Dove symbolized the Holy Spirit dwelling in us while the Raven symbolized the Sinful Nature also dwelling in us.

The dove in Scripture is a powerful image of the Holy Spirit, reflecting innocence, purity, and a connection to God.

Genesis 1:2: The Spirit of God “hovered” over the earth, like a dove brooding over its nest, bringing order to chaos.

Matthew 10:16: Jesus instructed His disciples to be “innocent as doves.” The Greek word “akeraios” means unmixed or pure.

According to Leviticus 1:14, doves are categorized as clean birds. They live in dry and clean places, feeding primarily on seeds, grains, fruits, and insects.

In Genesis 8:6-12, Noah released both a raven and a dove from the ark after the flood.

Dove vs. Raven Comparison:

Attributes	Dove	Raven
1. Color	White	Black
2. Declared as	Clean	Unclean
3. Food	Feeds on seeds and fruits	Rotting flesh
4. After release	Returns to the ark	Never returns to the ark

Dove VS. Raven

This comparison highlights the contrast between the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature within us. The Holy Spirit desires purity, truth, and righteousness. He cannot rest on dead flesh but dwells in clean and holy vessels. The sinful nature (the raven) loves decaying flesh, representing the corrupt and fallen aspects of the world.

The dove and the raven represent the two natures within us: the Holy Spirit and the fallen flesh. This internal conflict is reflected in Galatians 5:16-23, which speaks of the flesh and the Spirit being opposed to each other. The Holy Spirit seeks to guide us into all truth and holiness, while the flesh is drawn to sin and corruption.

The flesh feeds on corruption. Just as the raven feeds on dead flesh, our sinful nature seeks satisfaction in the fallen, decaying things of this world. The Holy Spirit on the other hand, desires purity. The Holy Spirit, like the dove, desires to abide in a clean and holy vessel. Genesis 6:3 reminds us that God’s Spirit will not contend with humanity forever, as they are but flesh:

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

The going forth of the raven and the dove holds deeper significance. In Job 1:7 and 2:2 Satan, like the raven, goes to and fro on the earth, seeking those he may deceive. However, his time is limited—one day, he will be cast into the lake of fire.

The Dove on the other hand, was sent three time from the Ark according to the story. And this threefold departure of the Dove symbolized the following:

1. First Departure – Old Testament: The Holy Spirit searched for someone to abide with but found none permanently.

2. Second Departure – Grace Period: During the Church Age, the dove brought back an olive leaf, signifying peace and the presence of those with whom He could dwell.

3. Third Departure – Millennial Reign: The dove finds a permanent home on earth as the Spirit of God is poured out and the earth is filled with the knowledge of God. During this time, the raven (representing Satan) is not present on Earth.

The Spirit of God desires to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). As believers, if we are feeding on the truth today, then the Dove in us will continually grow until It reaches Its fullness . We must examine our lives: are we continually feeding the Dove in us or are we feeding the Raven? Do we indulge ourselves in the Truth or in the rotten things of sin? We must remember that which one will get stronger in us depends on which one we are feeding. I hope we are not feeding the Raven.

The raven and the dove symbolize the two natures within us—the sinful nature and the Holy Spirit. The sinful nature, like the raven, loves corruption and death. It is satisfied with the decaying things of this world. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit desires purity, truth, and righteousness.

We must choose which nature we will feed. Are we feeding on the garbage of this world, or are we feeding on what is clean and pure? The Holy Spirit desires to dwell in clean vessels, to guide us into all truth, and to transform us into the image of Christ.

May we be like the dove, continually returning to the ark—God’s presence—finding our rest and our home in Him. And may we reject the ways of the raven, refusing to feed on the corruption of this world, and instead live by the Spirit, embracing the fullness of the life that God offers us.