Bible Strands
Luke 9:58
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a man who has just pledged to follow Him anywhere. The exchange occurs while traveling on a road, immediately before Jesus calls another man and responds to a third man’s request to delay discipleship for family obligations.
The words — ἀλώπεκες (alōpekes) means “foxes” and φωλεοὺς (phōleous) means “holes” or dens, denoting the secure resting places that wild creatures naturally possess.
The thread — The identical declaration appears in Matthew 8:20, while the theme of uncompromising loyalty runs through Luke 14:26 and the voluntary poverty described in 2 Corinthians 8:9.
Why it lands — The text states that the Messiah lacks permanent shelter, which requires a follower to abandon expectations of comfort and security in exchange for immediate obedience.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Matthew 8:20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
- Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
- 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
- Luke 18:22 On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
- Psalms 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.
- John 6:60 On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”
- James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- Joshua 24:19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins.