φωλεός (phōleos)
phōleos
den
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun phōleos refers to a burrow, hole, or lair where an animal hides. In the New Testament it appears only twice, both times in parallel passages within Matthew 8:20 and Luke 9:58. Jesus uses the term when describing his own lack of a permanent home, contrasting his itinerant ministry with the stable shelter available to wild animals.
The word carries a sense of concealment or refuge, often implying a dark, enclosed space like a den. Its usage here highlights the vulnerability and transience of Jesus’ earthly life. By noting that foxes have these dens, the text emphasizes that while creatures find security in their natural habitats, the Son of Man has no such fixed place to rest his head.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word φωλεὶς (phōleos) describes the hidden burrow or den where a fox finds safety. In the Gospels, Jesus uses this image to highlight His own lack of a permanent home during His earthly ministry. While wild animals have secure places to rest, He had nowhere to lay His head. This was not a sign of failure, but a deliberate choice to identify with the transient and vulnerable aspects of human life.
For believers today, this word offers a profound comfort. It reminds us that our security does not come from stable housing or consistent circumstances, but from following Christ Himself. Even when life feels uncertain or rootless, we are never alone. The One who had no den still provides a true home in His presence, inviting us to trust Him regardless of our external situation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- holes2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φωλεοὺς2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 8:20
Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
This verse establishes the contrast between the natural security animals possess and the voluntary homelessness Jesus accepted for His mission.
-
Luke 9:58
Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Here the term underscores the cost of discipleship, showing that following Him requires leaving behind conventional comforts.