Pigeon

Pigeon [DOVE; TURTLEDOVE]

Pigeon. See Turtle-Dove.

The well-known bird, often associated with the turtle dove, as being used by the poor in various sacrifices. A pair of these birds were offered when the Lord was presented in the temple. Luk 2:24. Pigeons were so numerous in Palestine that the poor were enabled easily to obtain a pair for any needed sacrifice. Gen 15:9; Lev 1:14; Lev 5:7; Lev 5:11; Lev 12:6; Lev 12:8; Lev 14:22; Lev 14:30; Lev 15:14; Lev 15:29; Num 6:10.

PIGEON.—See Animals, vol. i. p. 65^b, and Dove.

See DOVE:

PIGEON.—See Dove.

pij´un (יונה, yōnāh; περιστερά, peristerá; Latin pipire): A bird of the family Columbidae. See DOVE. The Hebrew yōnāh seems to be translated either pigeon or dove, yet almost every reference made to these birds proves that there were distinct branches of the family recognized, and one or the other or both are designated. On the other hand, some of the translations read doves, where the remainder of the text makes it very clear that pigeons were the birds intended, The Latin pipire means “to cheep,” and refers to the unusually clamorous young in the nest. The old birds coo, moan and wail as doves. The birds are almost 12 inches long, have full, plump bodies that are delicious food, and beautifully marked and shaded plumage. They feed principally on grain, seeds, small buds and fruit. Beyond question wild pigeons were the first birds domesticated and taught to home with man. They appeared in a state of such complete domestication, that they flew free, yet homed and bred in places provided by man at the time of the very first attempts at keeping records of history. At the time the earliest Biblical accounts were written, pigeons were so domesticated that in all known countries of the East they were reckoned when an estimate was made of a man’s wealth.

The rich provided large and expensive cotes of molded pottery for their birds, each section big enough for the home of one pair of birds, the regular rows of openings resembling lattice work, so that Isaiah refers to them as “windows” (Isa 60:8). Septuagint reads σύν νοσσοίς, sún nossoı́s, literally, “with young” or “fledglings” (see below). The middle classes modeled cotes of oven-baked clay, and the very poor cut holes in the walls, over the doors, and allowed the birds to enter and live with the family.

In wild estate, rock and wood pigeons swarmed in countless numbers through rocky caves and caverns and over the plains of Gennesaret, the forests of Gilead and the woody slopes of Carmel. They remained throughout the season, breeding at all times. The doves were migratory, and were kept in confinement only as caged pets or to be held for sale for sacrifice. For these purposes, it appears that the dove was slightly preferred. When only one bird was to be used, a dove is always specified; where two, almost in every case the dove is mentioned first. Where one or the other will suffice, the dove seems to have been given preference. This may have been because it required greater effort to procure a dove, and so it was considered a greater sacrifice. Everyone having a home of any sort had pigeons they could use, or they could be taken wild at any time. The dove is first mentioned in Gen 15:9: “And he said unto him, Take me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.”

It will be observed that the dove is mentioned first, and it is specified that the pigeon was to be young. It is probable that the people protected their domesticated pigeons by using the wild for sacrifice, whenever possible. Young birds could be taken from a nest at almost any time. The old birds, among the wild, were shy creatures and far more difficult to capture in nets or snares than doves that came close to cities and villages to live, and exhibited much less fear of man than the wild pigeons. The next reference is in Lev 5:7: “And if his means suffice not for a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass-offering for that wherein he hath sinned, two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, unto Yahweh; one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering.” Here two birds of each kind were to be offered, if the person making the sacrifice could not afford a lamb. Again in Lev 12:6: “And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sinoffering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest.” Here is a rare instance where the text or the translators place the pigeon first.

“And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting” (Num 6:10). In Son 2:14:

“O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock,

In the covert of the steep place,

Let me see thy countenance,

Let me hear thy voice;

For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.”

Here the text reads “dove,” but the description of the location and the implication of the text prove the bird to have been a rock pigeon - a tender, loving thing, yet shy and timid, that peeps with eyes of bright concern over the rocks of its chosen home, down at the intruder. Isa 60:8: “Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?” Here is another place where the wrong bird is used. Doves were wild and migratory. They had no “windows.” But the tile pots massed in one diamond-shaped cote appeared at a little distance, like latticed windows. This should read “pigeons” instead of “doves.” For the same reason see Jer 48:28: “O ye inhabitants of Moab, leave the cities and dwell in the rock; and be like the dove that maketh her nest over the mouth of the abyss.” Again the bird intended is the rock pigeon. Luk 2:24: “A sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” This describes the sacrifice offered in the temple by Mary following the birth of Jesus.

Lev 1:14 (c) This bird represents the Lord JESUS in His sacrificial work. The bird could be had simply by catching it. So CHRIST may be had simply by appropriation. The bird is a small bird in size, and this indicates that some people must have just a small comprehension of the value of the Saviour. Others have a greater comprehension as is pictured by the larger animal, the sheep. Still others have a very large understanding of the value of CHRIST, and this is represented by the large animal, the bullock.

Luk 2:24 (c) This type represents the offering of CHRIST for the pauper. He has no assets and very little understanding of the things of GOD, yet he trusts the Lord JESUS with the faith that he has, though it be very simple.

See Dove

A pigeon or dove is a bird from the pigeon family (Columbidae). People often use the two names in the same way. For example, the common city pigeon comes from the wild rock dove. In the Bible, English translations use both words for the same Hebrew term. A second Hebrew term is usually translated “turtledove.” The ancient Hebrews seemed to know there were different kinds of doves.

Today, at least six kinds of pigeons or doves live in Israel:

• the rock, ring, and stock doves (genus Columba), and

• the turtle, collared, and palm doves (genus Streptopelia).

The rock dove (Columba livia) and the turtledove (Streptopelia turtur) are mentioned most often in the Bible.

Pigeons are 15–30 centimeters (6–12 inches) long. The rock dove is the most colorful kind in Israel. It is often silvery gray, with greenish wings that shine in the light (Psalm 68:13). The smaller doves are mostly gray or light brown, with a dark half collar on the back of the neck. Pigeons have short necks, small heads, round bodies, and short wings. These wings are strong, so pigeons can fly far. Smaller doves have longer tails.

Wild rock doves live mainly near the Sea of Galilee and in ravines near the Dead Sea. They make their nests on cliffs and rocks (Song of Solomon 2:14; Jeremiah 48:28). All doves in Israel make fragile nests from small pieces of plants. They usually lay two eggs, twice a year. Both parents feed the young. They eat seeds and weeds. Parents make “pigeon’s milk” (soft, partly digested food) in their crops and feed it to the chicks.

Male doves often compete for mates. The turtledove’s courtship flight is very beautiful. Doves care for their mates and their young. Because of this, people have long used the dove as a sign of love and peace (Song of Solomon 1:15; 2:14; 4:1; 5:2).

Ancient writers knew pigeons and turtledoves were different. Pigeons live in Israel all year and are easy to tame. Turtledoves are wild and visit only in the spring (Song of Solomon 2:12; Jeremiah 8:7). People kept turtledoves in cages as pets or for sacrifices. Pigeons may have been the first birds humans kept, possibly even in Noah’s time (Genesis 8:8–12). In New Testament times, many pigeon houses (dovecotes) were near Herod the Great’s palace in Jerusalem.

Pigeons in Bible Times

People valued doves and pigeons as gentle birds, as food, and for sacrifices. Turtledoves may have been seen as more special for sacrifice because they were harder to get. The Bible often mentions them in offerings (Genesis 15:7–10; Leviticus 1:14; 5:7; 12:6; Numbers 6:10; Luke 2:24). Other passages describe their:

• moaning sound (Isaiah 38:14; 59:11; Ezekiel 7:16; Nahum 2:7),

• flight (Psalm 55:6),

• beauty (Song of Solomon 1:15; 4:1; 5:12),

• gentleness (Matthew 10:16), and

• loyalty (Song of Solomon 6:9).

Hosea 7:11 uses the dove as a picture of being too trusting.

At Jesus’s baptism, the Holy Spirit came down like a dove (Matthew 3:16). Early Christians connected the dove with the Holy Spirit and the comfort the Spirit gives. The dove is still a common sign of the Holy Spirit today.

See also Birds.

Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

A bird used, along with doves, for sacrifices, especially by those who could not afford lambs.

A pigeon offered as sacrifice

LEV 1:14 See also GEN 15:9; LEV 1:15–1:17, LEV 14:21–14:22, LEV 15:14, LEV 15:29; NUM 6:10

Pigeons offered as a sacrifice by the poor

LEV 5:7 See also LUK 2:22–2:24

Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin H. Manser. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.