{The Spirit of God descending as a dove} (pneuma theou
katabainon h(9373)ei peristeran). It is not certain whether Matthew
means that the Spirit of God took the form of a dove or came upon
Jesus as a dove comes down. Either makes sense, but Luke ( Lu
3:22 ) has it "in bodily form as a dove" and that is probably the
idea here. The dove in Christian art has been considered the
symbol of the Holy Spirit.