What is the significance of a white dove at the baptism of Jesus?

Answer 1

In Christ's baptism in Matthew 3:16-17 and John 1:32-34 (among others) the significance of seeing a white dove descend on Christ is that the "dove" represents the Holy Spirit of God coming down out of heaven landing on and remaining with Jesus Christ, and with God the Father identifying and praising Him:-

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: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

[From Mat 3:16-17 KJV]And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

[From Joh 1:32-34 KJV]

However, this is not the whole story: the first mention of any word in Scripture, (sometimes called "The Law of First Mention"), is important prophetically because the sense or meaning in which it is first used dictates its use in prophetic interpretation. In the case of the word "dove", this is first used in The Bible when Noah releases a dove to see if the land is suitable for living in. Earlier Noah had released a raven - an eater of carrion - which because it didn't return meant there must have been bodies still there to eat, and therefore that the the earth was still not quite safe to venture out upon. Two weeks later there was sufficient vegetation for the dove to eat because it didn't come back:-Gen 8:8-12 KJV Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; [From 9] But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. [From 10] And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; [From 11] And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouthwas an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. [From 12] And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

As Noah leaves the ark, God says He will not curse the earth again this way: the Flood was a curse upon the earth, and the dove is a sign that the earth will not be cursed this way again [in the future it will be by fire - see 2Peter 3:7] :-Gen 8:18-21 KJV And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: [From 19] Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, andout of the ark. [From 20] And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. [From 21] And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heartis evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

The dove is also described as undefiled, perfect, unique, blessed, praiseworthy, terrible, awe-inspiring, and awesome:-Son 6:9-10 KJV My dove, my undefiled [perfect one (LITV, WEB), unique (NET)] is butis the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. [From 10] Who is shethat looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun,and terrible [awe-inspiring (NET), awesome (WEB)] as an army with banners?

Putting all of this answer together, the significence of seeing a white dove descend on Christ is that the "dove" represents the Holy Spirit of God coming down out of heaven landing on and remaining with God's Beloved Son Jesus , who is undefiled, perfect, unique, blessed, praiseworthy, terrible, awe-inspiring, awesome, and who has come to remove the curse upon the earth and mankind. This event of God the Father identifying His Son is so important that it is found in all four Gospels, in case anybody missed the point.

Answer 2

The white dove symbolizes peace.