Home/Biblical Encyclopedia/T/The turtledove

The turtledove

Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia

(Gen. 15:9). Together with doves, numerous flocks of turtledoves are found in Palestine. The turtledove is smaller than the dove and belongs to the migratory birds. In Palestine they appear at the beginning of spring (Song of Songs 2:12). They were offered in sacrifice, as were doves (Gen. 15:9; Lev. 1:14), and were eaten as a clean bird (Deut. 14:14). See Dove.

Scripture cited

Genesis 15:9 Leviticus 1:14 Deuteronomy 14:14

Related entries

Brook of Egypt (Num. 34:5; Josh. 15:4)—the boundary stream between Egypt and Palestine, separating Palestine from Egypt and…
Calf (Gen. 18:7; Luke 15:23)—a young bovine animal. A well-fed calf was esteemed food for a distinguished guest or…
Damascus (from Syriac: place of activity, business) (Gen. 15:2) — capital of ancient Syria, for three centuries the…
Euphrates (in Hebrew and Aramaic: Frat) (great, mighty river) (Gen. 2:14) — a well-known river of Asia, which rises in…
Furnace (Gen. 15:17). The Hebrews used furnaces for refining precious metals (Prov. 17:3). Egyptian drawings suggest…
Hittites (Gen. 15:20; 23:3, and elsewhere)—one of the peoples associated with Canaan. Abraham purchased the cave of…
Iniquity; Lawlessness (Gen. 15:16)—an act or condition opposed to God’s law and righteous will. “Sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).…
Kadmonites (easterners) (Gen 15:19) - an ancient people whose origin and dwelling place were difficult to determine.…
Kenites (meaning uncertain) (Gen 15:19) - an ancient nomadic people of northwestern Arabia, first mentioned in…
Kenizzites (Gen 15:19) - an ancient people whose land, with the other territories named there, was promised by God to…

Search the whole Encyclopedia All 4,575 entries, searchable, with every entry linked to the verses it explains.