Turtle-Dove
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Scripture Alphabet Of Animals
Turtle-Dove

This is a very beautiful and innocent bird, and no one is mentioned more frequently in the Bible. It does not live upon the flesh of animals: so when Noah sent one out of the ark, she soon came back again, because she could find nothing to eat, and no rest for the sole of her foot. Noah put out his hand and gently took her in, and she did not go out again for a whole week. Then Noah let her fly, and the beautiful creature came back in the evening, having in her mouth a green leaf which she had plucked from an olive-tree; as though she wanted to tell him that the waters were beginning to dry up. After another week she went out, and did not come back again to the ark, because the earth was dry.

The dove was often offered as a sacrifice in ancient times; and was a type of our innocent Savior, to show how he would afterwards be put to death for the guilty. The Holy Spirit once condescended to take the form of a dove, when he rested upon Christ at the time of his baptism. Our Savior speaks of the innocence of this bird when he says to his disciples, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

This bird has a very sweet but mournful voice; and this is referred to in the Bible. Hezekiah, one of the Jewish kings, had been very sick and expected to die; but as he lay on his bed, he prayed that God would be pleased to spare his life. God heard his prayer, and promised that he should live fifteen years longer; and soon after he became quite well. He was grateful to God for his goodness, and wrote a beautiful song of praise to be sung in the temple. Among other things he told how he felt when he lay so sick upon his bed. He says, "Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter; I did mourn as a dove."

The turtle-dove is a bird of passage. It appears in Judea early in the spring, when the leaves are coming out, the flowers opening, and every thing looking lovely and beautiful. This will explain some verses in the Song of Solomon, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away, for lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle (or turtle-dove) is heard in our land." It remains until summer is gone; and then flies away to a warmer climate to spend the winter. It is in reference to this that David says, "Oh! that I had wings like a dove! for then would I flee away, and be at rest; lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness; I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest." You will find these beautiful verses in the Psalm 55.

Who would not wish to be like the gentle, peaceful dove?

ATS Bible Dictionary
Turtle-Dove

Or Turtle, the Columba Turtur; a distinct bird from the common dove or pigeon, smaller and differently marked, and having a soft and plaintive note, Isaiah 59:11 Ezekiel 7:16. It is a bird of passage, Jeremiah 8:7, leaving Palestine for a short trip to the south, and returning early in spring, So 2:12. It is timid and fond of seclusion, and pines in captivity, Psalm 11:1. The law allowed it as a burnt or sin-offering by the poor, Le 1:14 5:7 Matthew 21:22, and in several cases of purification, etc., Le 12:6-8 14:22 Numbers 6:10 Luke 2:24. Before the giving of the law, Abraham offered birds, which he divided the other victims he left the birds entire, Genesis 15:9.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Turtle-dove

Its peculiar peaceful and gentle habit its often referred to in Scripture. A pair was offered in sacrifice by Mary at her purification (Luke 2:24). The pigeon and the turtle-dove were the only birds permitted to be offered in sacrifice (Leviticus 1:14; 5:7; 14:22; 15:14, 29, etc.). The Latin name of this bird, turtur, is derived from its note, and is a repetition of the Hebrew name tor. Three species are found in Palestine, (1) the turtle-dove (Turtur auritus), (2) the collared turtle (T. risorius), and (3) the palm turtle (T. Senegalensis). But it is to the first of these species which the various passages of Scripture refer. It is a migratory bird (Jeremiah 8:7; Cant. 2:11, 12). "Search the glades and valleys, even by sultry Jordan, at the end of March, and not a turtle-dove is to be seen. Return in the second week of April, and clouds of doves are feeding on the clovers of the plain. They overspread the whole face of the land." "Immediately on its arrival it pours forth from every garden, grove, and wooded hill its melancholy yet soothing ditty unceasingly from early dawn till sunset. It is from its plaintive and continuous note, doubtless, that David, pouring forth his heart's sorrow to God, compares himself to a turtle-dove" (Psalm 74:19).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
TURTLE-DOVE

tur'-t'-l-duv.

See DOVE.

Greek
5167. trugon -- a turtledove
... turtle-dove. Word Origin from truzo (to murmur, coo) Definition a turtledove
NASB Word Usage turtledoves (1). turtle-dove. From truzo ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5167.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
8449. tor -- turtledove
... turtledove (5), turtledoves (9). estate. Or tor {tore}; probably the same as towr;
a ring-dove, often (figuratively) as a term of endearment -- (turtle) dove. ...
/hebrew/8449.htm - 6k

8450. tor -- a bullock
... turtle dove. (Aramaic) corresponding (by permutation) to showr; a bull -- bullock,
ox. see HEBREW showr. 8449, 8450. tor. 8451 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8450.htm - 6k

Library

Thy Cheeks are Comely as a Turtle Dove's; Thy Neck as Jewels.
... CHAPTER I. 9. Thy cheeks are comely as a turtle dove's; thy neck as jewels. The
cheeks signify the interior and exterior; they are comely as a turtle dove's. ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/9 thy cheeks are comely.htm

Of the Meaning of the Sacrifice Abraham was Commanded to Offer ...
... inherit it, God said to him, "Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat
of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 24 of the meaning of.htm

On the Animals
... [Ps.67(68):14(13)]. The nest is the church, the high peace of the blessed; in the
psalm: and the turtledove is in its nest where it places its chicks. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iv on the animals.htm

Whether a Suitable Cause Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies which ...
... oxen, sheep and goats; of birds, generally the turtledove and the dove; but specially,
in the cleansing of a leper, an offering was made of sparrows. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a suitable cause can.htm

Whether Christ was Becomingly Presented in the Temple?
... Reply to Objection 4: The law ofLev.12:6, 8 "commanded those who could, to offer,
for a son or a daughter, a lamb and also a turtle dove or a pigeon: but those ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ was becomingly presented.htm

The Purification of the virgin and the Presentation in the Temple
... The sin-offering was, in all cases, a turtle-dove or a young pigeon. But,
while the more wealthy brought a lamb for a burnt-offering ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii the purification of.htm

Psalm LXXXIV.
... "For," saith he, "the sparrow hath found her a house, and the turtle-dove
a nest, where she may lay her young" (ver.3). What is this? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxiv.htm

Psalm CII.
... behalf. [4602] For our Head is as the sparrow, His body as the turtle-dove.
"For the sparrow hath found her an house." What house? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cii.htm

Song of Songs of Solomon
... 8. I have compared thee, O my love, to my company of horsemen in Pharaoh's chariots.
9. Thy cheeks are comely as a turtle dove's; thy neck as jewels. 10. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/

Abraham's Sacrifice of a Heifer Three Years Old, of a Goat, and of ...
... God commands Abraham, [2638] "Take Me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat
of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle dove, and a ...
/.../chapter ii abrahams sacrifice of a.htm

Thesaurus
Turtle-dove (5 Occurrences)
Turtle-dove. Turtledove, Turtle-dove. Turtledoves . Easton's Bible Dictionary
Turtle-dove. ... (ASV DBY). Turtledove, Turtle-dove. Turtledoves . Reference
/t/turtle-dove.htm - 9k

Turtledove (5 Occurrences)
... turtledoves, as the American mourning dove (see under Dove), and the Australian
turtledove (Stictopelia cuneata). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TURTLE-DOVE. ...
/t/turtledove.htm - 10k

Turtle (5 Occurrences)
... that David, pouring forth his heart's sorrow to God, compares himself to a
turtle-dove" (Psalm 74:19). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The turtledove. ...
/t/turtle.htm - 9k

Pigeon (3 Occurrences)
... and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove, and
a ... a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a ...
/p/pigeon.htm - 13k

Dove (27 Occurrences)
... Almighty is implored to protect: "Oh deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto
the ... a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a ...
/d/dove.htm - 28k

Crane (2 Occurrences)
... the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the ...
the stork in the sky knows her appointed times; and the turtledove and the ...
/c/crane.htm - 12k

Stork (6 Occurrences)
... the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the ...
the stork in the sky knows her appointed times; and the turtledove and the ...
/s/stork.htm - 14k

Turtledoves (10 Occurrences)

/t/turtledoves.htm - 9k

Birds (125 Occurrences)
... They are next found in the description of the sacrifice of Abram, where it was
specified that he was to use, with the animals slaughtered, a turtledove and a ...
/b/birds.htm - 62k

Swallow (38 Occurrences)
... the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the ...
the stork in the sky knows her appointed times; and the turtledove and the ...
/s/swallow.htm - 24k

Bible Concordance
Turtle-dove (5 Occurrences)

Genesis 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.
(See JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Leviticus 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 turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest:
(See JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 74:19 Oh deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast: Forget not the life of thy poor for ever.
(See JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Song of Songs 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing 'of birds' is come, And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land;
(ASV DBY)

Jeremiah 8:7 Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the law of Jehovah.
(ASV DBY)

Subtopics

Turtle-Dove

Related Terms

Turtledove (5 Occurrences)

Turtle (5 Occurrences)

Pigeon (3 Occurrences)

Dove (27 Occurrences)

Crane (2 Occurrences)

Stork (6 Occurrences)

Turtledoves (10 Occurrences)

Birds (125 Occurrences)

Swallow (38 Occurrences)

Year-old (6 Occurrences)

Yearling (48 Occurrences)

Zoology

Purifying (17 Occurrences)

Cleansing (37 Occurrences)

She-goat (2 Occurrences)

Ram (96 Occurrences)

Figtree

Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)

Purification (25 Occurrences)

Bird (65 Occurrences)

Troop (28 Occurrences)

Female (95 Occurrences)

Uncleanness (56 Occurrences)

Fulness (76 Occurrences)

Fig (45 Occurrences)

Elamites (2 Occurrences)

Completed (109 Occurrences)

Flowers (42 Occurrences)

Doorway (221 Occurrences)

Goat (92 Occurrences)

Elam (24 Occurrences)

Singing (65 Occurrences)

Sin-offering (115 Occurrences)

Burnt-offering (205 Occurrences)

Entrance (190 Occurrences)

Opening (242 Occurrences)

Oh (164 Occurrences)

Afflicted (171 Occurrences)

Fulfilled (143 Occurrences)

Heifer (22 Occurrences)

Meeting (323 Occurrences)

Ordinance (89 Occurrences)

Appear (111 Occurrences)

Lamb (124 Occurrences)

Burnt (392 Occurrences)

Congregation (347 Occurrences)

Daughter (320 Occurrences)

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