Brief Overview of περιστερά (Strong’s G4058: peristera)

Strong’s G4058: A noun meaning “dove” or “pigeon.” In biblical contexts, this bird carries rich symbolic significance, particularly as a representation of the Holy Spirit, peace, purity, and innocence. It was also commonly used in Jewish sacrificial practices.

U- Unveiling the Word

Περιστερά (peristera) primarily denotes a dove or pigeon, birds that held significant religious and cultural symbolism in the ancient world. In the New Testament, this word carries profound theological significance, particularly in the baptism of Jesus where the Holy Spirit descended “like a dove.” The early church understood the dove as a symbol of divine presence, peace, and purity. This symbolism carried through church history in art, architecture, and theology. Today, the image of the dove continues to represent the gentle, peaceful nature of the Holy Spirit’s work and the purity of God’s people.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: περιστερά, peristera, per-is-ter-ah’
• Detailed pronunciation: per (as in “pair”) + is (as in “is”) + ter (as in “tear”) + ah (as in “ah”)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:
Originally from Proto-Indo-European root, possibly onomatopoeic, imitating the cooing sound of doves

D – Defining Meanings

• Dove
• Pigeon
• Sacred bird (in religious context)
• Symbol of peace
• Symbol of the Holy Spirit

Translation Options:

1. Dove – emphasizes the symbolic and spiritual aspects
2. Pigeon – more precise for sacrificial contexts
3. Turtledove – specific species sometimes referenced in Scripture

E – Exploring Similar Words

• τρυγών (trygōn) [troo-gone’] – turtledove, a specific species
• πτηνόν (ptēnon) [ptay-non’] – bird in general
• ὄρνεον (orneon) [or’-neh-on] – bird, usually wild birds

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Noun Features:

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• First Declension

Example forms:
Nominative singular: περιστερά
Genitive singular: περιστερᾶς
Accusative plural: περιστεράς

Cross-references:
No direct verbal or adjectival derivatives

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes both the literal bird and its symbolic significance in biblical narrative. Thayer’s notes its importance in Jewish sacrificial system. LSJ documents its widespread use in classical Greek. Vine’s highlights its symbolic association with the Holy Spirit. Strong’s connects it to both sacrificial and symbolic contexts. Moulton and Milligan note its common usage in everyday documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [περιστερά] and coming to rest on him.” (Matthew 3:16)

Additional References:
Matthew 10:16
Matthew 21:12
Mark 1:10
Luke 3:22
John 1:32
John 2:14

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Περιστερά beautifully illustrates God’s gentle approach to humanity through the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’s baptism, the dove symbolizes the Spirit’s peaceful descent, announcing God’s pleasure in His Son. This proclaims the good news that King Jesus brings not just peace but the very presence of God’s Spirit, who continues to work gently yet powerfully in believers’ lives.

D – Did You Know?

1. Doves were the only birds acceptable for sacrifice by the poor in Jewish law.
2. The dove was also a symbol of peace in Greek culture, influencing early Christian understanding.
3. Early Christian catacombs often featured dove imagery representing the faithful departed.

Strong’s G4058: A noun denoting a dove or pigeon, carrying rich symbolic significance in biblical contexts. Represents the Holy Spirit, peace, and purity in New Testament usage, while also referring to sacrificial birds in Temple worship.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: #dove #HolySpirit #peace #purity #sacrifice #baptism #Jesus #NewTestament #BiblicalGreek #symbol #worship #Temple​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​