"a dove, pigeon, Mt. 3:16; 10:16"
Definition and meaning
a dove, pigeon, Mt. 3:16; 10:16
In the original Greek the word is written: περιστερά
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of peristera (G4058) across the King James Bible.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
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Common questions
Strong's G4058 (peristera) is a Greek word that means: a dove, pigeon, Mt. 3:16; 10:16 It appears 10 times in the King James Bible.
The word peristera (G4058) appears 10 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4058 is peristera, a Greek word defined as: a dove, pigeon, Mt. 3:16; 10:16. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
peristera is a Greek word found in the New Testament.