Quick Definition
περιστερά, άς, ἡ n.f. a dove
Strong's Definition
of uncertain derivation; a pigeon
KJV Usage: dove, pigeon
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ᾶς
4.44 · Animals · Birds
dove, pigeon Asiatic Rock dove: bird with a blue-gray color with a pinkish sheen to the neck feathers and a black tip on its tail; lives in large colonies and eats mainly seeds; courts, mates, and has nests several times a year; nests on rock ledges; Columba via; used as food and for sacrifices; regarded as swift, docile, and innocent Though in English a relatively clear distinction is made between ‘doves’ (which have pointed tails) and ‘pigeons’ (which have square off tails), there seems to be no such distinction in the use of περιστερά and τρυγών in the Greek of the New Testament.
There are, however, certain problems involved in the connotations of terms relating to pigeons or doves. According to ancient zoology, the dove was thought to have no bile, and consequently, therefore, to be a very peaceful and clean bird. It thus became a symbol of Christian virtue and of gentleness (as in MAT 10:16). In reality, however, doves and pigeons are quite aggressive, and a group of pigeons are frequently known to peck an injured bird to death. Therefore, in some societies pigeons or doves are not regarded as gentle or peaceful, but rather as wicked and harmful. In fact, in some cultures doves are thought to be symbols of death and of evil. Under such circumstances it is important, therefore, to have some marginal note so as to indicate clearly the symbolic significance of such birds in biblical contexts.
MAT 3:16 · MAT 10:16 · MAT 21:12 · MRK 1:10 · MRK 11:15 · LUK 2:24 · LUK 3:22 · JHN 1:32 · JHN 2:14 · JHN 2:16
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
περιστερά, -ᾶς, ἡ, Hebr. 731, a dove: Mt. iii. 16; x. 16; xxi. 12; Mk.i. 10; xi. 15; Lk. ii. 24; iii. 22; Jn. 1.32; ii. 14,16. [From Hat. down. }
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
περιστερά peristera 10x
a dove, pigeon, Mt. 3:16; 10:16
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
περιστερά, -ᾶς, ἡ,
[in LXX chiefly for יוֹנָה;]
a dove: Mt 3:16 10:16 21:12, Mk 1:10 11:15, Lk 2:24 3:22, Jo 1:32 2:14, 16.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
περιστερά (a Semitic borrowing=bird of Istar) is common in the sense of ‘‘dove,’”’ cf. e.g. P Flor ΠῚ. 361° (a.p. 82-3) περιστερὰς ἑκατόν. The diminutive περιστέριον is found in BGU IV. 1095! (A.D. 57) ἱμακάτιον περιστερᾳίων (1. ἡμικάδιον περιστερίων), ““ἃ half-jar of (preserved) pigeons,” and περιστερίδιον in BGU II. 5967 (A.D. 84) (= Selections, p- 64) where the writer invites a friend to accompany the bearer of the letter, ὅπως εἰς τὴν ἑω(--οἱρτὴν περιστερείδια ἡμεῖν ἀγοράσηι, ““{παᾶΐ he may buy for us young pigeons for the feast,” P Giss I. 80° (ii/a.p.) τὰ [π]εριστερίδι[α καὶ ὀ]ρνυθάρια, ἃ οὐκ ἤωθα ἐσθεῖν, πέμψον . .., and P Lond ined. Inv. N. 1575 (iii/a.D.) (cited by Olsson Papyrusbrzefe, P- 195) μνημονεύσατε τῶν περιστεριδίων ἡμῶν (a schoolboy to his father). In P Oxy VIII. 11278 (a.p. 183) we have the lease of the upper-room of a house with a pigeon-cote --τὸν ὑπερῷον τόπον tis... οἰκίας καὶ ὃν ἔχει ἐκεῖ περιστερεῶνα : cf. Wilcken Archiv i. p. 129, Luckhard Privathaus, p. 99. According to Plummer 7CC ad Lk 325, in ancient Jewish symbolism the dove is Israel, and not the Spirit, but see Nestle ZN7IV vii. (1906), p. 358f., and Abrahams Studies in Phartsaisn? i. Ὁ. 47 ff.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
περιστερά (peristera) — dove. περιστερ-ά, ἡ, common pigeon or dove, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; specifically, Columba livia domestica, and so distinguished from φάψ, φάττα, οἰνάς, τρυγών, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: περιστερός, ὁ, cock-pigeon, [Refs 5th c.BC+] (of a carrier-pigeon), [Refs 2nd c.AD+]