Send Close Add comments: (status displays here)
Got it!  This site "creationpie.org" uses cookies. You consent to this by clicking on "Got it!" or by continuing to use this website.  Note: This appears on each machine/browser from which this site is accessed.
Foxes and birds and nests
by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640


1. Foxes and birds and nests
Jesus mentions foxes and birds together and connects a "fox" with "Herod" using the derogatory word for the hybrid of a fox and dog.

Verse routeMatthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. [kjv]
Verse routeκαι λεγει αυτω ο ιησους αι αλωπεκες φωλεους εχουσιν και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατασκηνωσεις ο δε υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ εχει που την κεφαλην κλινη [gnt]
Verse routeLuke 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. [kjv]
Verse routeεν αυτη τη ωρα προσηλθαν τινες φαρισαιοι λεγοντες αυτω εξελθε και πορευου εντευθεν οτι ηρωδης θελει σε αποκτειναι [gnt]
Verse route13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. [kjv]
Verse routeκαι ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες ειπατε τη αλωπεκι ταυτη ιδου εκβαλλω δαιμονια και ιασεις αποτελω σημερον και αυριον και τη τριτη τελειουμαι [gnt]

Jesus did not come to "reside" in the law. He came to "reside" with sinners so they could be saved. The "reside" is often mistranslated as "destroy" or "abolish", etc.

Information sign More: Matthew 5: 17 Leave the light on but do not use the law as a residence inn

2. Foxes
The ancient Greek word "ἀλωπεκῆ""fox". Some say that using a feminine form was to insult Herod. However, gender then was not what it is today in English. The word for fox was feminine.

However, the ancient Greek word "ἀλωπεκίς""hybrid of fox and dog". As a vulpine hound, this reference would have been derogatory.

In ancient Greek, many animals had different names for the female and male form. It is not that the word is feminine. It is that the word referred to a specific type of animal. Some of these can interbreed and are called "vulpines".

3. Matthew 8:20 Heaven
Verse routeMatthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. [kjv]
Verse routeκαι λεγει αυτω ο ιησους αι αλωπεκες φωλεους εχουσιν και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατασκηνωσεις ο δε υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ εχει που την κεφαλην κλινη [gnt]
Verse routeheofene fugeles … [wes]
Verse routebriddis of heuene … [wy]

The ancient Greek word "οὐρανός""heaven, air".

Wycliffe translates the Greek as the Middle English phrase "briddis of heuene""birds of heaven" as does the Wessex Old English phrase "heofene fugeles""birds of heaven".

The old English word "briddis" for "bird" may be the source of the English word "bride".

4. Matthew 8:20
   Matthew 8:20 
 All 
KJV: And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Greek: και λεγει αυτω ο ιησους αι αλωπεκες φωλεους εχουσιν και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατασκηνωσεις ο δε υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ εχει που την κεφαλην κλινη
Latin: et dicit ei Iesus vulpes foveas habent et volucres caeli tabernacula Filius autem hominis non habet ubi caput reclinet
Wessex: Ða cweð se haelend to hym. Foxas haebbeð holo. & heofene fugeles nyst. soðlice mannes sune naefð hwaer he hys heafod änhelde.
Wycliffe: And Jhesus seide to hym, Foxis han dennes, and briddis of heuene han nestis, but mannus sone hath not where`he schal reste his heed.
Tyndale: And Iesus sayd vnto him: the foxes have holes and the bryddes of the ayer have nestes but ye sonne of the man hath not whero to rest his heede.
Luther: Jesus sagte zu ihm: Die Füchse haben Gruben, und die Vögel unter dem Himmel haben Nester; aber des Menschen Sohn hat nicht, da er sein Haupt hinlege.
Slavonic: Глагола ему Иисус: лиси язвины имут, и птицы небесныя гнезда: Сын же Человеческий не имать где главы подклонити.
Russian: И говорит ему Иисус: лисицы имеют норы и птицы небесные-гнезда, а Сын Человеческий не имеет, где приклонить голову.
Spanish: Y Jesús le dijo: Las zorras tienen guaridas, y las aves del cielo nidos; mas el Hijo del Hombre no tiene donde recostar su cabeza.

5. Luke 9:58
Verse routeLuke 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. [kjv]

Luke repeats the idea.

6. Luke 9:58
   Luke 9:58 
 All 
KJV: And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Greek: και ειπεν αυτω ο ιησους αι αλωπεκες φωλεους εχουσιν και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατασκηνωσεις ο δε υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ εχει που την κεφαλην κλινη

7. Strongs - holes

8. Usage - holes
Word usage per chapter Words: φωλεους=2

*G5454 *2 φωλεός (fo-leh-os') : of uncertain derivative; a burrow or lurking-place:--hole.

9. Fox
The English word "fox" is related to the PIE (Proto Indo-European) root "PUK""tail" as the fox has a distinctive bushy tail. The feminine form in English is "vixen".

10. Latin fox and wolf
The fox is not genetically compatible with the dog or the wolf, both of which can interbreed.

In ancient times, however, they appeared somewhat similar and were somewhat associated. The Latin words for "fox" and "wolf" are similar. Note: In 2023 there was a news article about a combination fox and dog crossbreed.

11. Diagram
Linguistic diagram of fox

12. Strongs - fox

13. Usage - fox
Word usage per chapter Words: αλωπεκες=2 αλωπεκι

*G258 *3 ἀλώπηξ (al-o'-pakes) : of uncertain derivation; a fox, i.e. (figuratively) a cunning person:--fox.
One possible meaning of the figurative use of "fox" is that of a crafty leader of a human-based organization (i.e., a house of sand) such as Herod.

14. Luke 13:31-32
Verse routeLuke 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. [kjv]
Verse routeεν αυτη τη ωρα προσηλθαν τινες φαρισαιοι λεγοντες αυτω εξελθε και πορευου εντευθεν οτι ηρωδης θελει σε αποκτειναι [gnt]
Verse route13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. [kjv]
Verse routeκαι ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες ειπατε τη αλωπεκι ταυτη ιδου εκβαλλω δαιμονια και ιασεις αποτελω σημερον και αυριον και τη τριτη τελειουμαι [gnt]


15. Luke 13:31
   Luke 13:31 
 All 
KJV: The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
Greek: εν αυτη τη ημερα προσηλθον ωρα προσηλθαν τινες φαρισαιοι λεγοντες αυτω εξελθε και πορευου εντευθεν οτι ηρωδης θελει σε αποκτειναι

16. Luke 13:32
   Luke 13:32 
 All 
KJV: And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
Greek: και ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες ειπατε τη αλωπεκι ταυτη ιδου εκβαλλω δαιμονια και ιασεις επιτελω αποτελω σημερον και αυριον και τη τριτη τελειουμαι
Latin: et ait illis ite dicite vulpi illi ecce eicio daemonia et sanitates perficio hodie et cras et tertia consummor
Slavonic: И рече им: шедше рцыте лису тому: се, изгоню бесы и изцеления творю днесь и утре, и в третий скончаюся:
Russian: И сказал им: пойдите, скажите этой лисице: се, изгоняю бесов и совершаю исцеления сегодня и завтра, и в третий день кончу;
Spanish: Yél les dijo: Id, y decid a aquella zorra: He aquí, echo fuera demonios y hago sanidades hoy y mañana, y al tercer día seré consumado.

17. Old Testament
The fox is mentioned a number of times in the OT (Old Testament).

18. Judges 15:4 Samson
Verse routeJudges 15:4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails. [kjv]
Verse routeκαι επορευθη σαμψων και συνελαβεν τριακοσιας αλωπεκας και ελαβεν λαμπαδας και συνεδησεν κερκον προς κερκον και εθηκεν λαμπαδα μιαν ανα μεσον των δυο κερκων εν τω μεσω [lxx]


19. Judges 15:4
   Judges 15:4 
 All 
KJV: And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
Hebrew: וילך שמשון וילכד שלש מאות שועלים ויקח לפדים ויפן זנב אל זנב וישם לפיד אחד בין שני הזנבות בתוך׃
Greek: και επορευθη σαμψων και συνελαβεν τριακοσιας αλωπεκας και ελαβεν λαμπαδας και συνεδησεν κερκον προς κερκον και εθηκεν λαμπαδα μιαν ανα μεσον των δυο κερκων εν τω μεσω

20. Psalms 63:10
Verse routePsalms 63:10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. [kjv]
Verse routeπαραδοθησονται εις χειρας ρομφαιας μεριδες αλωπεκων εσονται [lxx]


21. Psalms 63:10
   Psalms 63:10 
 All 
KJV: They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
Hebrew: יגירהו על ידי חרב מנת שעלים יהיו׃
Greek: παραδοθησονται εις χειρας ρομφαιας μεριδες αλωπεκων εσονται

22. Song of Solomon 2:15
Verse routeSong of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. [kjv]
Verse routeπιασατε ημιν αλωπεκας μικρους αφανιζοντας αμπελωνας και αι αμπελοι ημων κυπριζουσιν [lxx]


23. Song of Solomon 2:15
 All 
KJV: Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Hebrew: אחזו לנו שועלים שועלים קטנים מחבלים כרמים וכרמינו סמדר׃
Greek: πιασατε ημιν αλωπεκας μικρους αφανιζοντας αμπελωνας και αι αμπελοι ημων κυπριζουσιν

24. Ezekiel 13:4
Verse routeEzekiel 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. [kjv]
Verse routeοι προφηται σου ισραηλ ως αλωπεκες εν ταις ερημοις [lxx]


25. Ezekiel 13:4
   Ezekiel 13:4 
 All 
KJV: O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Hebrew: כשעלים בחרבות נביאיך ישראל היו׃
Greek: οι προφηται σου ισραηλ ως αλωπεκες εν ταις ερημοις

26. Strongs - bird

27. Usage - bird
*G4071 *14 πετεινόν (pet-i-non') : neuter of a derivative of G4072; a flying animal, i.e. bird:--bird, fowl.
Word usage per chapter Words: πετεινα=11 πετεινων=3


28. Strongs - nest

29. Usage - nest
*G2682 *2 κατασκήνωσις (kat-as-kay'-no-sis) : from G2681; an encamping, i.e. (figuratively) a perch:--nest.
Word usage per chapter Words: κατασκηνωσεις=2


30. Meaning of the verse
What exactly might the meaning of the verse be?

Future topic Details are left as a future topic.


31. End of page

by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640