Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the waters had receded from the surface of the ground.
We have here an account of the spies which Noah sent forth to bring him intelligence from abroad, a raven and a dove. Observe here, I. That though God had told Noah particularly when the flood would come, even to a day (Gen 7:4), yet he did not give him a particular account by revelation at what times, and by what steps, it should go away, 1.
Commenting on Genesis 8:6-12
Also he sent forth a dove from him,.... Seven days after he had sent out the raven, as in Gen 8:10. to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; for the dove is a creature that delights in cleanness, flies low, and goes far off, so that if it returned not again, he might conclude that the waters were...
Also he sent forth a dove--a bird flying low and naturally disposed to return to the place of her abode.