What does יוֹנָה (yonah) mean in the Bible?
יוֹנָה (yonah): Symbol of innocence and purity in covenant contexts; also represents vulnerability and gentleness
Hebrew · H3123
יוֹנָה
A dove (apparently from the warmth of their mating)
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יוֹנָהH3123
Pronunciationyonah
What does יוֹנָה (yonah) mean in the Bible?
יוֹנָה (yonah): Symbol of innocence and purity in covenant contexts; also represents vulnerability and gentleness
Full entry for יוֹנָה (H3123) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3123?
The BSB source-word alignment has 31 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include pigeons (8), like a dove (3), like doves (3), are [like] doves (2), pigeon (2).
Where does יוֹנָה (yonah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 8:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (9), Song Of Solomon (6), Genesis (5), Isaiah (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itpigeons8×Leviticus 5:7, Leviticus 5:11, Leviticus 12:8, Leviticus 14:22
like a dove3×Psalms 55:6, Isaiah 38:14, Jeremiah 48:28
like doves3×Isaiah 59:11, Isaiah 60:8, Ezekiel 7:16
are [like] doves2×Song Of Solomon 1:15, Song Of Solomon 4:1
pigeon2×Leviticus 1:14, Leviticus 12:6
the dove2×Genesis 8:10, Genesis 8:11
a dove1×Genesis 8:8
and like doves1×Hosea 11:11
are like doves1×Song Of Solomon 5:12
but my dove1×Song Of Solomon 6:9
But the dove1×Genesis 8:9
dove1×Hosea 7:11
doves1×Nahum 2:7
my dove1×Song Of Solomon 5:2
O my dove1×Song Of Solomon 2:14
of the dove1×Psalms 68:13
the dove {again}1×Genesis 8:12
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 8:8הַיּוֹנָ֖הtoa doveArticle | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 8:9הַיּוֹנָ֨הtoBut the doveArticle | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 8:10הַיּוֹנָ֖הtothe doveArticle | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 8:11הַיּוֹנָה֙tothe doveArticle | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 8:12הַיּוֹנָ֔הtothe dove {again}Article | Noun - feminine singularLeviticus 1:14הַיּוֹנָ֖הtopigeonArticle | Noun - feminine singularLeviticus 5:7יוֹנָ֖הtopigeonsNoun - feminine singularLeviticus 5:11יוֹנָה֒topigeonsNoun - feminine singularLeviticus 12:6יוֹנָ֥הtopigeonNoun - feminine singularLeviticus 12:8יוֹנָ֔הtopigeonsNoun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 8:8
Aligned rows31
Books represented10
Genesis5Leviticus9Numbers1Psalms2Song Of Solomon6Isaiah3Jeremiah1Ezekiel1Hosea2Nahum1
Source forms
הַיּוֹנָ֖ה3xhay·yō·w·nāhGenesis 8:8, Genesis 8:10, Leviticus 1:14
יוֹנָ֑ה3xyō·w·nāhLeviticus 15:14, Leviticus 15:29, Numbers 6:10
וְכַיּוֹנִ֖ים2xwə·ḵay·yō·w·nîmIsaiah 59:11, Isaiah 60:8
יוֹנָ֔ה2xyō·w·nāhLeviticus 12:8, Leviticus 14:22
יוֹנִ֔ים2xyō·w·nîmSong Of Solomon 4:1, Nahum 2:7
יוֹנָתִ֣י2xyō·w·nā·ṯîSong Of Solomon 5:2, Song Of Solomon 6:9
הַיּוֹנָ֨ה1xhay·yō·w·nāhGenesis 8:9
הַיּוֹנָה֙1xhay·yō·w·nāhGenesis 8:11
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular9xLeviticus 5:7, Leviticus 5:11, Leviticus 12:6, Leviticus 12:8
Article | Noun - feminine singular7xGenesis 8:8, Genesis 8:9, Genesis 8:10, Genesis 8:11
Noun - feminine plural3xSong Of Solomon 1:15, Song Of Solomon 4:1, Nahum 2:7
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular3xSong Of Solomon 2:14, Song Of Solomon 5:2, Song Of Solomon 6:9
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine plural2xIsaiah 59:11, Isaiah 60:8
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular2xJeremiah 48:28, Hosea 7:11
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular2xPsalms 55:6, Isaiah 38:14
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular1xHosea 11:11
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Symbol of innocence and purity in covenant contexts; also represents vulnerability and gentleness
Source Gloss
a dove (apparently from the warmth of their mating)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Symbol of innocence and purity in covenant contexts; also represents vulnerability and gentleness
a dove (apparently from the warmth of their mating) BDB: dove Usage: dove, pigeon.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
dove
Showing 1 selected witness from 33 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יוֹנָה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Represents naïve and unstable diplomacy.Hosea 7:8-16
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.