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In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. The New International Version translates the passage as: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Because doves were used at the time to symbolize Israel, [12] the text further points to the twelve as the centre of the true Israel. Pairing the statement on snakes with one about doves seems to have been a trope in Jesus' time. Though the wisdom of the serpent has a positive connotation, it is also meant to contrast with the innocence of doves.
[1] [2] In the Hebrew Bible it is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] The book contains the prophecies attributed the prophet Hosea , son of Beeri , and this chapter is about Israel reproved for multiple sins (Hosea 7:1-10) resulting in God's wrath against them for their hypocrisy (Hosea 7:11-16).
Jesus exhorted them, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Wilhelm Gesenius notes that even amongst the ancient Hebrews, the serpent was a symbol of wisdom. [32]
16: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17: But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18: And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Hilary of Poitiers: "The Apostles salute the house with the prayer of peace; yet so as that peace seems rather spoken than given.For their own peace which was the bowels of their pity ought not to rest upon the house if it were not worthy; then the sacrament of heavenly peace could be kept within the Apostles own bosom.
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads: And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. The New International Version translates the passage as: Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
The dove imagery in this passage, and in the corresponding verse in Luke, is a well known one. Based on this verse the dove has long been a symbol for the Holy Spirit in Christian art. France notes that the wording in Matthew is vague, the Spirit could be descending in the shape of a dove or it could be descending in the manner of the dove.