Bible Strands
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a scribe who has just declared he will follow Jesus wherever He goes. This reply occurs immediately after the scribe’s statement and before another disciple later requests permission to bury his father.
The words — ἀλώπεκες (alōpekes) literally means “foxes,” and φωλεοὺς (phōleous) means “holes” or dens. These terms establish a direct contrast between wild animals that secure shelter and Jesus’ lack of a permanent dwelling.
The thread — The motif of birds finding nests appears in Psalms 84:3, where the sparrow and swallow locate a place near God’s altars. Jesus’ own birth in Luke 2:7 and the suffering servant’s lack of stately form in Isaiah 53:2 further trace this pattern of unassuming origins.
Why it lands — The text states that the Son of Man has no place to lay His head, which interpreters infer as a declaration of voluntary homelessness and itinerant ministry. It asks the reader to accept that following Jesus requires abandoning expectations of earthly security or fixed comfort.
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 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.
Cross-references
- 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.
- Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
- Isaiah 53:2 He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.
- Psalms 104:17 where the birds build their nests; the stork makes her home in the cypresses.
- Luke 2:16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
- 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.
- Psalms 109:22 For I am poor and needy; my heart is wounded within me.
- Luke 2:12 And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
- Luke 8:3 Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
- Psalms 40:17 But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay.