Animals

יוֹנָה Dove

Every verse in which this word stands — 33 places, in canonical order, first appearance to last. These are the places the lexicon carries under this word's own entry, counting every form the text writes it in, which is the number on the list.

BirdGematria 71×33 in TanakhKosherOffering speciesFirst appearance:

The yonah — Noach's messenger with the olive leaf, the offering of the poor, the beloved's eyes in Shir HaShirim. Yonah the prophet bears the word as his name; he is his own entry, on the names lists.

Genesis 8:8בראשית ח:ח

וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת־הַיּוֹנָה מֵאִתּוֹ לִרְאוֹת הֲקַלּוּ הַמַּיִם מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָֽאֲדָמָֽה

And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground.

Genesis 8:9בראשית ח:ט

וְלֹֽא־מָצְאָה הַיּוֹנָה מָנוֹחַ לְכַף־רַגְלָהּ וַתָּשָׁב אֵלָיו אֶל־הַתֵּבָה כִּי־מַיִם עַל־פְּנֵי כָל־הָאָרֶץ וַיִּשְׁלַח יָדוֹ וַיִּקָּחֶהָ וַיָּבֵא אֹתָהּ אֵלָיו אֶל־הַתֵּבָֽה

But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him to the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth; and he put forth his hand, and took her, and brought her in unto him into the ark.

Genesis 8:10בראשית ח:י

וַיָּחֶל עוֹד שִׁבְעַת יָמִים אֲחֵרִים וַיֹּסֶף שַׁלַּח אֶת־הַיּוֹנָה מִן־הַתֵּבָֽה

And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.

Genesis 8:11בראשית ח:יא

וַתָּבֹא אֵלָיו הַיּוֹנָה לְעֵת עֶרֶב וְהִנֵּה עֲלֵה־זַיִת טָרָף בְּפִיהָ וַיֵּדַע נֹחַ כִּי־קַלּוּ הַמַּיִם מֵעַל הָאָֽרֶץ

And the dove came in to him at eventide; and lo in her mouth an olive-leaf freshly plucked; so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

Genesis 8:12בראשית ח:יב

וַיִּיָּחֶל עוֹד שִׁבְעַת יָמִים אֲחֵרִים וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת־הַיּוֹנָה וְלֹֽא־יָסְפָה שׁוּב־אֵלָיו עֽוֹד

And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; and she returned not again unto him any more.

Leviticus 1:14ויקרא א:יד

וְאִם מִן־הָעוֹף עֹלָה קָרְבָּנוֹ לַֽיהוָה וְהִקְרִיב מִן־הַתֹּרִים אוֹ מִן־בְּנֵי הַיּוֹנָה אֶת־קָרְבָּנֽוֹ

And if his offering to the LORD be a burnt-offering of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtle-doves, or of young pigeons.

Leviticus 5:7ויקרא ה:ז

וְאִם־לֹא תַגִּיע יָדוֹ דֵּי שֶׂה וְהֵבִיא אֶת־אֲשָׁמוֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָא שְׁתֵּי תֹרִים אֽוֹ־שְׁנֵי בְנֵֽי־יוֹנָה לַֽיהוָה אֶחָד לְחַטָּאת וְאֶחָד לְעֹלָֽה

And if his means suffice not for a lamb, then he shall bring his forfeit for that wherein he hath sinned, two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD: one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering.

Leviticus 5:11ויקרא ה:יא

וְאִם־לֹא תַשִּׂיג יָדוֹ לִשְׁתֵּי תֹרִים אוֹ לִשְׁנֵי בְנֵי־יוֹנָה וְהֵבִיא אֶת־קָרְבָּנוֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָא עֲשִׂירִת הָאֵפָה סֹלֶת לְחַטָּאת לֹא־יָשִׂים עָלֶיהָ שֶׁמֶן וְלֹא־יִתֵּן עָלֶיהָ לְבֹנָה כִּי חַטָּאת הִֽיא

But if his means suffice not for two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he shall bring his offering for that wherein he hath sinned, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon; for it is a sin-offering.

Leviticus 12:6ויקרא יב:ו

וּבִמְלֹאת יְמֵי טָהֳרָהּ לְבֵן אוֹ לְבַת תָּבִיא כֶּבֶשׂ בֶּן־שְׁנָתוֹ לְעֹלָה וּבֶן־יוֹנָה אוֹ־תֹר לְחַטָּאת אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵד אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן

And when the days of her purification are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year 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.

Leviticus 12:8ויקרא יב:ח

וְאִם־לֹא תִמְצָא יָדָהּ דֵּי שֶׂה וְלָקְחָה שְׁתֵּֽי־תֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה אֶחָד לְעֹלָה וְאֶחָד לְחַטָּאת וְכִפֶּר עָלֶיהָ הַכֹּהֵן וְטָהֵֽרָה

And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons: the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Leviticus 14:22ויקרא יד:כב

וּשְׁתֵּי תֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה אֲשֶׁר תַּשִּׂיג יָדוֹ וְהָיָה אֶחָד חַטָּאת וְהָאֶחָד עֹלָֽה

and two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, such as his means suffice for; and the one shall be a sin-offering, and the other a burnt-offering.

Leviticus 14:30ויקרא יד:ל

וְעָשָׂה אֶת־הָֽאֶחָד מִן־הַתֹּרִים אוֹ מִן־בְּנֵי הַיּוֹנָה מֵאֲשֶׁר תַּשִּׂיג יָדֽוֹ

And he shall offer one of the turtle-doves, or of the young pigeons, such as his means suffice for;

Leviticus 15:14ויקרא טו:יד

וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי יִֽקַּֽח־לוֹ שְׁתֵּי תֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה וּבָא לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּנְתָנָם אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן

And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tent of meeting, and give them unto the priest.

Leviticus 15:29ויקרא טו:כט

וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי תִּֽקַּֽח־לָהּ שְׁתֵּי תֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה וְהֵבִיאָה אוֹתָם אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד

And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting.

Numbers 6:10במדבר ו:י

וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי יָבִא שְׁתֵּי תֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד

And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting.

2 Kings 6:25מלכים ב ו:כה

וַיְהִי רָעָב גָּדוֹל בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן וְהִנֵּה צָרִים עָלֶיהָ עַד הֱיוֹת רֹאשׁ־חֲמוֹר בִּשְׁמֹנִים כֶּסֶף וְרֹבַע הַקַּב חרי יונים בַּחֲמִשָּׁה־כָֽסֶף

And there was a great famine in Samaria; and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.

Isaiah 38:14ישעיהו לח:יד

כְּסוּס עָגוּר כֵּן אֲצַפְצֵף אֶהְגֶּה כַּיּוֹנָה דַּלּוּ עֵינַי לַמָּרוֹם אֲדֹנָי עָֽשְׁקָה־לִּי עָרְבֵֽנִי

Like a swallow or a crane, so do I chatter, I do moan as a dove; mine eyes fail with looking upward. O LORD, I am oppressed, be Thou my surety. .

Isaiah 59:11ישעיהו נט:יא

נֶהֱמֶה כַדֻּבִּים כֻּלָּנוּ וְכַיּוֹנִים הָגֹה נֶהְגֶּה נְקַוֶּה לַמִּשְׁפָּט וָאַיִן לִֽישׁוּעָה רָחֲקָה מִמֶּֽנּוּ

We all growl like bears, And mourn sore like doves; We look for right, but there is none; For salvation, but it is far off from us.

Isaiah 60:8ישעיהו ס:ח

מִי־אֵלֶּה כָּעָב תְּעוּפֶינָה וְכַיּוֹנִים אֶל־אֲרֻבֹּתֵיהֶֽם

Who are these that fly as a cloud, And as the doves to their cotes?

Jeremiah 48:28ירמיהו מח:כח

עִזְבוּ עָרִים וְשִׁכְנוּ בַּסֶּלַע יֹשְׁבֵי מוֹאָב וִֽהְיוּ כְיוֹנָה תְּקַנֵּן בְּעֶבְרֵי פִי־פָֽחַת

O ye that dwell in Moab, Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock; And be like the dove that maketh her nest In the sides of the pit’s mouth.

Ezekiel 7:16יחזקאל ז:טז

וּפָֽלְטוּ פְּלִיטֵיהֶם וְהָיוּ אֶל־הֶהָרִים כְּיוֹנֵי הַגֵּאָיוֹת כֻּלָּם הֹמוֹת אִישׁ בַּעֲוֺנֽוֹ

But they that shall at all escape of them, shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, every one in his iniquity.

Hosea 7:11הושע ז:יא

וַיְהִי אֶפְרַיִם כְּיוֹנָה פוֹתָה אֵין לֵב מִצְרַיִם קָרָאוּ אַשּׁוּר הָלָֽכוּ

And Ephraim is become like a silly dove, without understanding; They call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria.

Hosea 11:11הושע יא:יא

יֶחֶרְדוּ כְצִפּוֹר מִמִּצְרַיִם וּכְיוֹנָה מֵאֶרֶץ אַשּׁוּר וְהוֹשַׁבְתִּים עַל־בָּתֵּיהֶם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה

They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, And as a dove out of the land of Assyria; And I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith the LORD.

Nahum 2:8נחום ב:ח

וְהֻצַּב גֻּלְּתָה הֹֽעֲלָתָה וְאַמְהֹתֶיהָ מְנַֽהֲגוֹת כְּקוֹל יוֹנִים מְתֹפְפֹת עַל־לִבְבֵהֶֽן

And the queen is uncovered, she is carried away, And her handmaids moan as with the voice of doves, Tabering upon their breasts.

Psalms 55:7תהלים נה:ז

וָאֹמַר מִֽי־יִתֶּן־לִּי אֵבֶר כַּיּוֹנָה אָעוּפָה וְאֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה

And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.

Psalms 56:1תהלים נו:א

לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל־יוֹנַת אֵלֶם רְחֹקִים לְדָוִד מִכְתָּם בֶּֽאֱחֹז אֹתוֹ פְלִשְׁתִּים בְּגַֽת

For the Leader; upon Jonath-elem-rehokim. [A Psalm] of David; Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath. .

Psalms 68:14תהלים סח:יד

אִֽם־תִּשְׁכְּבוּן בֵּין שְׁפַתָּיִם כַּנְפֵי יוֹנָה נֶחְפָּה בַכֶּסֶף וְאֶבְרוֹתֶיהָ בִּֽירַקְרַק חָרֽוּץ

When ye lie among the sheepfolds, The wings of the dove are covered with silver, And her pinions with the shimmer of gold. .

Song of Songs 2:14שיר השירים ב:יד

יוֹנָתִי בְּחַגְוֵי הַסֶּלַע בְּסֵתֶר הַמַּדְרֵגָה הַרְאִינִי אֶתּ־מַרְאַיִךְ הַשְׁמִיעִינִי אֶת־קוֹלֵךְ כִּי־קוֹלֵךְ עָרֵב וּמַרְאֵיךְ נָאוֶֽה

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.’

Song of Songs 4:1שיר השירים ד:א

הִנָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי הִנָּךְ יָפָה עֵינַיִךְ יוֹנִים מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָֽעִזִּים שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָֽד

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil; Thy hair is as a flock of goats, that trail down from mount Gilead.

Song of Songs 5:2שיר השירים ה:ב

אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה וְלִבִּי עֵר קוֹל דּוֹדִי דוֹפֵק פִּתְחִי־לִי אֲחֹתִי רַעְיָתִי יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי שֶׁרֹּאשִׁי נִמְלָא־טָל קְוֻּצּוֹתַי רְסִיסֵי לָֽיְלָה

I sleep, but my heart waketh; Hark! my beloved knocketh: ‘Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.’

Song of Songs 5:12שיר השירים ה:יב

עֵינָיו כְּיוֹנִים עַל־אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם רֹֽחֲצוֹת בֶּֽחָלָב יֹשְׁבוֹת עַל־מִלֵּֽאת

His eyes are like doves Beside the water-brooks; Washed with milk, And fitly set.

Song of Songs 6:9שיר השירים ו:ט

אַחַת הִיא יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי אַחַת הִיא לְאִמָּהּ בָּרָה הִיא לְיֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ רָאוּהָ בָנוֹת וַֽיְאַשְּׁרוּהָ מְלָכוֹת וּפִֽילַגְשִׁים וַֽיְהַלְלֽוּהָ

My dove, my undefiled, is but one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bore her. The daughters saw her, and called her happy; Yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

Every Hebrew word for “dove”, with its gematria →

Quick answers

What is the Hebrew word for dove?

Dove in Hebrew is יונה, with a gematria of 71 in the standard method.

How many times is the dove mentioned in the Tanakh?

The word stands 33 times in the Tanakh, first at Genesis 8:8.

A spelling is not a word. The bare letters יונה stand 27 times in the corpus, which is a different question and often a different number: the same letters can spell a name or another word entirely, and the creature written with a particle attached is a spelling that search never returns. It is here, as itself.

See all 27 occurrences of the spelling יונה →