Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the fox is mentioned in several contexts, often symbolizing cunning, destruction, and desolation. The Hebrew word for fox, "שׁוּעָל" (shu'al), appears in various passages, reflecting the animal's characteristics and the cultural perceptions of the time.
Symbol of Cunning and DestructionThe fox is frequently associated with cunning and deceit. In the
Song of Solomon 2:15, the foxes are described as small but destructive creatures: "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." Here, the foxes symbolize minor yet potentially ruinous problems that can disrupt relationships or spiritual growth if not addressed.
In the New Testament, Jesus uses the fox metaphorically to describe Herod Antipas. In
Luke 13:32, Jesus responds to the Pharisees who warn Him about Herod's intentions: "Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’" This statement highlights Herod's cunning and deceitful nature, as well as Jesus' determination to fulfill His mission despite opposition.
Symbol of DesolationFoxes are also depicted as inhabitants of desolate and ruined places. In
Lamentations 5:18, the desolation of Zion is illustrated with the presence of foxes: "because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with foxes prowling in it." This imagery underscores the extent of devastation and abandonment, as foxes are typically found in deserted areas.
Similarly, in
Ezekiel 13:4, false prophets are compared to foxes in ruins: "Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins." This comparison emphasizes the deceitful and destructive influence of false prophets, who, like foxes, exploit and contribute to the spiritual ruin of the people.
Cultural and Natural ContextIn the ancient Near East, foxes were common and well-known for their nocturnal habits and ability to adapt to various environments. They were often seen as nuisances to agriculture, as they could damage crops and vineyards. This background informs the biblical use of fox imagery, as the animal's behavior and characteristics were familiar to the original audience.
ConclusionThe fox in biblical literature serves as a powerful symbol of cunning, deceit, and desolation. Through its various appearances, the fox illustrates the subtle yet destructive forces that can undermine spiritual and communal well-being. The biblical portrayal of the fox encourages vigilance and discernment in addressing both personal and communal challenges.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Fox(Heb.shual). Probably the jackal is the animal signified in almost all the passages in the Old Testament where the Hebrew term occurs. Though both foxes and jackals abound in Palestine, theshualim (foxes) of (Judges 15:4) are evidently jackals and not foxes, for the former animal is gregarious, whereas the latter is solitary in its habits; and Samson could not, for that reason, have easily caught three hundred foxes, but it was easy to catch that number of jackals, which are concealed by hundreds in caves and ruins of Syria. It is not probable, however, that Samson sent out the whole three hundred at once. With respect to the jackals and foxes of Palestine, there is no doubt that the common jackal of the country is theCanis aureus , which may be heard every night in the villages. It is like a medium-sized dog, with a head like a wolf, and is of a bright-yellow color. These beasts devour the bodies of the dead, and even dig them up from their graves.
ATS Bible Dictionary
FoxTwo words in Hebrew are translated "fox" in the Bible; and it is not easy in every case to determine what animal is referred to. There were several varieties of fox in Palestine, all like the common fox in form and habits. The fox is cunning, voracious, and mischievous,Ezekiel 13:4Luke 13:32. He is fond of grapes, and does much harm in vineyards, So 2:15. The fable of the fox and the sour grapes is well known. He is solitary in his habits, and burrows a home for himself in the ground,Luke 9:58. The jackal, at the present day, is much more numerous in Palestine, and is probably referred to in many texts where the word "foxes" occurs. It is like a medium-sized dog, with a head like the wolves, and a tail like the fox's; of a bright yellow color. To the fierceness of the wolf it joins the impudent familiarity of the dog. It differs from the fox in its habit of hunting its prey in large packs, and in its cry-a mournful howl, mixed with barking, which they keep up all night, to the annoyance of all within hearing. They live in holes; prowl around villages; ravage poultry yards; feed upon game, lizards, insects, grapes, garbage; and when they can find nothing else, old leather and any thing that has once had animal life. They follow after caravans and armies, and devour the bodies of the dead, and even dig them up from their graves,Psalm 63:10 La 5:18. The incident in the life of Samson, where foxes, or perhaps jackals, are referred to, Jud 15:4-5, has a parallel in the ancient Roman feast of Ceres, goddess of corn; when torches were bound to the tails of numbers of foxes, and they ran round the circus till the fire stopped and consumed them. This was in revenge for their once burning up some fields of corn.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Hebrews shu'al, a name derived from its digging or burrowing under ground), the Vulpes thaleb, or Syrian fox, the only species of this animal indigenous to Palestine. It burrows, is silent and solitary in its habits, is destructive to vineyards, being a plunderer of ripe grapes (Cant. 2:15). The Vulpes Niloticus, or Egyptian dog-fox, and the Vulpes vulgaris, or common fox, are also found in Palestine.
The proverbial cunning of the fox is alluded to inEzek. 13:4, and inLuke 13:32, where our Lord calls Herod "that fox." InJudges 15:4, 5, the reference is in all probability to the jackal. The Hebrew word shu'al_ through the Persian _schagal becomes our jackal (Canis aureus), so that the word may bear that signification here. The reasons for preferring the rendering "jackal" are (1) that it is more easily caught than the fox; (2) that the fox is shy and suspicious, and flies mankind, while the jackal does not; and (3) that foxes are difficult, jackals comparatively easy, to treat in the way here described. Jackals hunt in large numbers, and are still very numerous in Southern Palestine.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A carnivorous animal of the genus Vulpes, family Canidae, of many species. The European fox (V. vulgaris or V. vulpes), the American red fox (V. fulvus), the American gray fox (V. Virginianus), and the arctic, white, or blue, fox (V. lagopus) are well-known species.
2. (n.) The European dragonet.
3. (n.) The fox shark or thrasher shark; -- called also sea fox. See Shark.
4. (n.) A sly, cunning fellow.
5. (n.) Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar; -- used for seizings or mats.
6. (n.) A sword; -- so called from the stamp of a fox on the blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox.
7. (n.) A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs, formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin; -- called also Outagamies.
8. (n.) To intoxicate; to stupefy with drink.
9. (n.) To make sour, as beer, by causing it to ferment.
10. (n.) To repair the feet of, as of boots, with new front upper leather, or to piece the upper fronts of.
11. (v. i.) To turn sour; -- said of beer, etc., when it sours in fermenting.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FOX(shu`al; compare Arabic tha`lab (Judges 15:4Nehemiah 4:3Psalm 63:10Songs 2:15Lamentations 5:18Ezekiel 13:4); alopex (Matthew 8:20Luke 9:58;Luke 13:32)): The foxes of different parts of Europe and Western Asia differ more or less from each other, and some authors have given the local tyes distinct specific names. Tristram, for instance, distinguishes the Egyptian fox, Vulpes nilotica, of Southern Palestine, and the tawny fox, Vulpes flavescens, of the North and East It is possible that the range of the desert fox, Vulpes leucopus, of Southwestern Asia may also reach Syria. We have, however, the authority of the Royal Natural History for considering all these as merely local races of one species, the common fox, Vulpes alopex or Canis vulpes. The natives of Syria and Palestine do not always distinguish the fox and jackal although the two animals are markedly different. The jackal and wolf also are frequently confounded.
SeeDRAGON;JACKAL.
InPsalm 63:9 we have, "Those that seek my soul, to destroy it,. shall be given over to the power of the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes" (shu`alim). It has been thought that the jackal is meant here (Revised Version margin), and that may well be, though it is also true that the fox does not refuse carrion. In the Revised Version, margin, "jackal" is suggested in two other passages, though why is not clear, since the rendering "fox" seems quite appropriate in both. They areNehemiah 4:3, ". if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall," andLamentations 5:17, ". our eyes are dim; for the mountain of Zion which is desolate: the foxes walk upon it." the Revised Version, margin also has "jackals" inJudges 15:4, where Samson "caught three hundred foxes. and put a firebrand in the midst between every two tails. and let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the oliveyards." Jackals are probably more numerous than foxes, but the substitution does not appreciably diminish the difficulties in the way of any natural explanation of the story. InSongs 2:15 we have a reference to the fondness of the fox for grapes. InMatthew 8:20 andLuke 9:58 Jesus says in warning to a would-be follower, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Foxes differ from most of the Canidae in burrowing holes for their lairs, unless indeed they take possession of the burrow of another animal, such as the badger. InLuke 13:32 Jesus compares Herod to a fox.
Alfred Ely Day.
Greek
258. alopex -- afox... a
fox. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: alopex Phonetic Spelling:
(al-o'-pakes) Short Definition: a
fox Definition: a
fox; a
fox-like, crafty
...Strong's Hebrew
7776. shual --fox, perhaps jackal... 7775, 7776. shual. 7777 .
fox, perhaps jackal. Transliteration: shual
Phonetic Spelling: (shoo-awl') Short Definition: foxes.
...fox.
...2705. Chatsar Shual -- "village of thefox," a place in S. Judah
... "village of thefox," a place in S. Judah. Transliteration: Chatsar Shual Phonetic
Spelling: (khats-ar' shoo-awl') Short Definition: Hazar-shual....
7777b. Shual -- "fox," an Asherite
... "fox," an Asherite. Transliteration: Shual Short Definition: Shual. Word Origin
from the same as shual Definition "fox," an Asherite NASB Word Usage Shual (1)....
7777a. Shual -- "fox," a district in Isr.
... Shual. 7777b . "fox," a district in Isr. Transliteration: Shual Short Definition:
Shual. Word Origin from the same as shual Definition "fox," a district in Isr...
7777. Shuw'al -- "fox," a district in Isr.
Shuw'al. 7776, 7777. Shuw'al. 7777a . "fox," a district in Isr. Transliteration:
Shuw'al Phonetic Spelling: (shoo-awl') Short Definition: Shual. Shual...
8169. Shaalbim -- perhaps "(haunt of) foxes," a city in Dan
... Shaalabbin, Shaalbim. Or Sha.alabbiyn {shah-al-ab-been'}; plural from shuw'al;
fox-holes; Shaalbim or Shaalabbin, a place in Palestine -- Shaalabbin, Shaalbim....
Library
GeorgeFox.
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE FATHERS OF THE REFORMATION, FOUNDERS OF SECTS, AND
OF OTHER DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME. GeorgeFox....
PMWJFox. Stabat Mater.
... III. JESUS CHRIST. 135. PMWJFox. Stabat Mater. 1 Jews were wrought to cruel madness,
Christians fled in fear and sadness, Mary stood the cross beside....
LMFox's Hymns. The Great Temple.
... II. GOD. 88. LMFox's Hymns. The Great Temple. 1 Though wandering in a
stranger-land, Though on the waste no altar stand, Take comfort!...
The Little Foxes.
... THE LITTLE FOXES. One littlefox is, "Some other time." If you track him
up, you come to his hole"never. Another littlefox is...
Introduction
... history of the English people during the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries should read most carefully three books: GeorgeFox's Journal, John...
Introduction
... Among his other extensive labours, it may be stated, that in 1677, he accompanied
GeorgeFox, William Penn, and other Friends, in a religious visit to Holland...
Letter F
... 1834 * Fowler, Littleton "Received 1826 * Fowler, Samuel , "Received 1791, Died
1831 * Fowler, William "Received 1822, Located 1837 *Fox, Absalom D...
Little Foxes
... Pride is a littlefox that kills the vine of brotherliness which Christ planted
in our hearts. Then another littlefox is sulkiness....
Whether any Demons are Naturally Wicked?
... Objection 3: Further, some irrational animals have wicked dispositions by nature:
thus thefox is naturally sly, and the wolf naturally rapacious; yet they are...
The Strait Gate. Warned against Herod.
... end he employed this strategy of sending messengers to warn Jesus under the guise
of friendship.] 32 And he said unto them, Go and say to thatfox [ie, say to...
Thesaurus
Fox (2 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews shu'al, a name derived from its digging or burrowing
under ground), the Vulpes thaleb, or Syrian
fox, the only species of
...Foxes (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Plural ofFox. 2. (n. pl.) SeeFox.
Multi-Version Concordance Foxes (9 Occurrences). Matthew 8:20...
Thresher (1 Occurrence)
... It is found both upon the American and the European coasts. Called alsofox shark,
sea ape, seafox, slasher, swingle-tail, and thrasher shark....
Zoology
... not found in Palestine CHIROPTERA: Bat CARNIVORA (a) Felidae, Cat, Lion, Leopard
(b) Hyaenidae, Hyena (c) Canidae, Dog (including Greyhound),Fox, Jackal, Wolf...
Jackal (3 Occurrences)
... Like thefox, it is destructive to poultry, grapes, and vegetables, but is less
fastidious, and readily devours the remains of others' feasts....
Jump (3 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they
are building, if afox go up, he shall break down their stone wall....
Goal (7 Occurrences)
... Luke 13:32 He said to them, "Go and tell thatfox,'Behold, I cast out demons and
perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission....
Wolf (4 Occurrences)
... 39): While the wolf is surpassed in size by some dogs, it is the fiercest member
of the dog family (Canidae), which includes among others the jackal and thefox...
Finish (35 Occurrences)
... Luke 13:32 "Go," He replied, "and take this message to thatfox: "'See, to-day and
to-morrow I am driving out demons and effecting cures, and on the third day...
Tobijah (17 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Nehemiah 4:3 And Tobijah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that
which they build, if afox went up, it would break down their stone wall....
Resources
What is the Church of Spiritualism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the foxes in Song of Solomon 2:15? | GotQuestions.orgWho was John Foxe? What is Foxe's Book of Martyrs? | GotQuestions.orgFox: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
