Fox

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

שועל ,  Judges 15:4;  Nehemiah 4:3;  Nehemiah 11:27;  Psalms 63:10;  Song of Solomon 2:15;  Lamentations 5:11;  Ezekiel 13:4;  Matthew 8:20;  Luke 9:58;  Luke 13:32 . Parkhurst observes that this is the name of an animal, probably so called from its burrowing, or making holes in the earth to hide himself or dwell in. The LXX render it by αλωπηξ , the Vulgate, vulpes, and our English version, fox. It is recorded, in   Judges 15:4-5 , that "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; and when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives." Dr. Shaw thinks jackals to be the animals here intended; observing, that "as these are creatures by far the most common and familiar, as well as the most numerous of any in the eastern countries, we may well perceive the great possibility there was for Samson to take, or cause to be taken, three hundred of them. The fox, properly so called," he adds, "is rarely to be met with, neither is it gregarious." So Hasselquist remarks: "Jackals are found in great numbers about Gaza; and, from their gregarious nature, it is much more probable that Samson should have caught three hundred of them, than of the solitary quadruped, the fox."

2. At the feast of Ceres, the goddess of corn, celebrated annually at Rome about the middle of April, there was the observance of this custom, to fix burning torches to the tails of a number of foxes, and to let them run through the circus till they were burnt to death. This was done in revenge upon that species of animals, for having once burnt up the fields of corn. The reason, indeed, assigned by Ovid, is too frivolous an origin for so solemn a rite; and the time of its celebration, the seventeenth of April, it seems, was not harvest time, when the fields were covered with corn, vestilos messibus agros; for the middle of April was seed time in Italy, as appears from Virgil's Georgics. Hence we must infer that this rite must have taken its rise from some other event than that by which Ovid accounted for it; and Samson's foxes are a probable origin of it. The time agrees exactly, as may be collected from several passages of Scripture. For instance from the book of Exodus we learn, that before the passover, that is, before the fourteenth day of the month Abib, or March, barley in Egypt was in the ear,   Exodus 12:18;  Exodus 13:4 . And in  Exodus 9:31-32 , it is said, that the wheat at that time was not grown up. Barley harvest, then, in Egypt, and so in the country of the Philistines, which bordered upon it, must have fallen about the middle of March. Wheat harvest, according to Pliny, was a month later: "In Egypto hordeum sexto a satu mense, fragmenta septimo metuntur." [In Egypt barley is reaped in the sixth month from the time of its being sown, wheat in the seventh.] Therefore wheat harvest happened about the middle of April; the very time in which the burning of foxes was observed at Rome. It is certain that the Romans borrowed many of their rites and ceremonies, both serious and ludicrous, from foreign nations; and Egypt and Phenicia furnished them with more perhaps than any other country. From one of these the Romans might either receive this rite immediately, or through the hands of their neighbours, the Carthaginians, who were a colony of Phenicians; and so its true origin may be referred back to the story which we have been considering.

Bochart has made it probable that the אוים spoken of in  Isaiah 13:22;  Isaiah 34:14; and  Jeremiah 50:39 , rendered by our translators "the beasts of the islands," an appellation very vague and indeterminate, are jackals; and that the θωες of the Greeks, and the beni ani of the Arabians are the same animal; and though he takes that to have been their specific name, yet he thinks, that, from their great resemblance to a fox, they might be comprehended under the Hebrew name of a fox, shual; which is indeed almost the same with sciagal sciugal, the Persian names of the jackal. Scaliger and Olearius, quoted by Bochart, expressly call the jackal a fox; and Mr. Sandys speaks of it in the same manner: "The jackals, in my opinion, are no other than foxes, whereof an infinite number," &c. Hasselquist calls it the little eastern fox; and Kaempfer says that it might not be improperly called the wolf-fox. It is therefore very conceivable that the ancients might comprehend this animal under the general name of fox.

3. To give an idea of his own extreme poverty, the Lord Jesus says,   Luke 9:58 , "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." And he calls Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee, a fox,  Luke 13:32; thereby signifying his craft, and the refinements of his policy. In illustration of the pertinency of this allusion, we may quote a remark of Busbequius: "I heard a mighty noise, as if it had been of men who jeered and mocked us. I asked what was the matter; and was answered, ‘Only the howlings of certain beasts which the Turks call, ciagals, or jackals.' They are a sort of wolves, somewhat bigger than foxes, but less than common wolves, yet as greedy and devouring. They go in flocks, and seldom hurt man or beast; but get their food more by craft and stealth than by open force. Thence it is that the Turks call subtle and crafty persons by the metaphorical name of ciagals."

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Shuw'Al , from Sha'Al "to burrow" ( Nehemiah 4:3;  Lamentations 5:18;  Matthew 8:20). In Hebrew including also the jackal which preys on unburied carcasses; "they shall be a portion for jackals" ( Psalms 63:9-10), fulfilled on "the seekers after David's soul" ( 2 Samuel 18:7-17). So Samson's 300 jackals (Judges 15); for jackals are gregarious, the fox is solitary. The Arab Shikal , "jackal", is related to the Hebrew Shu'Al . That jackals were common in Palestine appears from the names of places compounded with Shual , as Hagar-shual, Shaalbim; (compare Foxhayes, etc., in our own land;) being gregarious they would naturally run in couples, tied together by a cord of two or three yards length; Samson probably had men to help him, and caught and let them loose from different places to consume the greater quantity of the Philistines' grain.

Fond of grapes; ( Song of Solomon 2:15) "take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines." The bride after awaking from her past unwatchfulness is the more jealous of subtle (fox-like) sins ( Psalms 139:23). In spiritual winter evil weeds as well as good plants are frozen up; in the spring of revivals these start up unperceived, crafty false teachers spiritual pride, uncharitableness ( Psalms 19:12;  Matthew 13:26;  Hebrews 12:15). Little sins beget the greatest ( Ecclesiastes 10:1;  1 Corinthians 5:6).  Ezekiel 13:4; "thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts," where the foxes from having nothing to eat become doubly ravenous and crafty to get food. So, in Israel, once a vineyard now a moral desert, the prophets whose duty was to guard the church from being spoiled themselves spoil it, through crafty greed of gain.

So, Jesus calls Herod "that fox." The Lord had withdrawn from His plotting foes in Judea to the retired region beyond Jordan, Peraea. The Pharisees came to expedite His departure by pretending "Herod was seeking to kill Him." Herod was wishing Him to depart, feeling embarrassed how to treat Him whether to honor or persecute Him ( Luke 9:7-9;  Luke 13:32). It was the Pharisees themselves who wished to kill Him. But Herod lent himself to their design and so played the "fox." Tell that fox that "today and tomorrow" I remain doing works of mercy in the borders of his province, "on the third day" I begin that journey which ends in My about to be consummated sacrifice. The common jackal of Palestine is the Canis Aureus which may be heard nightly; also the Vulpes Vulgaris .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Two 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 13:4   Luke 13:32 . He is fond of grapes, and does much harm in vineyards, Song of  Song of Solomon 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   Lamentations 5:18 . The incident in the life of Samson, where foxes, or perhaps jackals, are referred to,  Judges 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.

Webster's 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): ( v. i.) To turn sour; - said of beer, etc., when it sours in fermenting.

(3): ( n.) The European dragonet.

(4): ( n.) The fox shark or thrasher shark; - called also sea fox. See Thrasher shark, under Shark.

(5): ( n.) A sly, cunning fellow.

(6): ( n.) Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar; - used for seizings or mats.

(7): ( n.) A sword; - so called from the stamp of a fox on the blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox.

(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): ( n.) A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs, formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin; - called also Outagamies.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

FOX ( ἁλώπηξ).—Foxes and jackals are referred to indiscriminately in Scripture, although the fox is somewhat smaller in size, and is generally found singly, whereas jackals prowl around villages in small packs. Both animals are of a timid nature, and exhibit similar cunning and stealth in securing their prey, and live in deserted ruins and among the rocks of the mountain gorges. Christ’s allusion to them ( Matthew 8:20,  Luke 9:58) takes its meaning from the fact that while places of refuge and rest were definitely allotted to such outcast creatures, the Son of Man had not where to lay His head. His reference to Herod as a fox ( Luke 13:32) is not only expressive of contempt, but may allude to the cause of the king’s hostility: he was the invader of vineyards who had taken his brother’s wife. The verses that follow also indicate that Christ’s death must be otherwise brought about. The petty and furtive intentions of Herod must give way to the grander rapacity of Jerusalem as the historical destroyer of the prophets.

G. M. Mackie.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Fox. (Hebrew, shu'al ). 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, the shu'alim (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 the Canis 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.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Fox. The jackal is probably meant in several passages where "fox" now occurs in Scripture. Both animals are cunning, voracious, and mischievous,  Ezekiel 13:4;  Luke 13:32, are fond of grapes.  Song of Solomon 2:15. Both burrow in the ground or among ruins.  Luke 9:58. The jackal hunts its prey in large packs. It follows after caravans and armies, and devours the bodies of the dead, and even digs them up from their graves.  Psalms 63:10;  Lamentations 5:18. See  2 Samuel 18:17. Samson used foxes or jackals,  Judges 15:4-5, to destroy the grain of the Philistines by binding torches to the tails of the animals, and they ran round setting fire to fields of corn.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Song of Solomon 2:15

The proverbial cunning of the fox is alluded to in  Ezekiel 13:4 , and in  Luke 13:32 , where our Lord calls Herod "that fox." In  Judges 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.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ἀλώπηξ (Strong'S #258 — Noun Feminine — alopex — al-o'-pakes )

is found in  Matthew 8:20;  Luke 9:58; metaphorically, of Herod, in  Luke 13:32 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

FOX . (1) shû·âl , see Jackal. (2) alôpçx (Gr.),   Matthew 8:20 ,   Luke 9:58;   Luke 13:32 . In the NT there is no doubt that the common fox and not the jackal is intended. It is noted in Rabbinical literature and in Palestinian folklore for its cunning and treachery. It burrows in the ground (  Luke 9:58 ). The small Egyptian fox ( Vulpes nilotica ) is common in S. Palestine, while the Tawny fox ( V. flavescens ). a larger animal of lighter colour, occurs farther north.

E. W. G. Masterman.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The well-known animal, that burrows in the ground.  Matthew 8:20 . They will eat anything, and are especially fond of grapes.  Song of Solomon 2:15 . They are very sly, and cunning in catching their prey; which accounts for Herod Antipas being called a fox by the Lord.  Luke 13:32 . It is supposed that the same Hebrew word, shual, includes the JACKAL, which may be intended in  Psalm 63:10 , and indeed in other passages. The canis aureus is the common Jackal of Palestine.

King James Dictionary

FOX. n.

1. An animal of the genus Canis, with a straight tail, yellowish or straw-colored hair, and erect ears. This animal burrows in the earth, is remarkable for his cunning, and preys on lambs, geese, hens or other small animals. 2. A sly, cunning fellow. 3. In seaman's language, a seizing made by twisting several rope-yarns together. 4. Formerly, a cant expression for a sword.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Luke 13:32 (a) A type of the crafty, cunning and wicked cruelty which characterized the life of Herod.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

See Foxes

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(שׁועל , shū‛āl  ; compare Arabic tha‛lab ( Judges 15:4;  Nehemiah 4:3;  Psalm 63:10;  Song of Solomon 2:15;  Lamentations 5:18;  Ezekiel 13:4 ); ἀλώπηξ , alō̇pēx ( Matthew 8:20;  Luke 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. See Dragon; Jackal .

In  Psalm 63:9 f 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" ( shū‛ālı̄m ). 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 are  Nehemiah 4:3 , ".... if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall," and  Lamentations 5:17 f, ".... our eyes are dim; for the mountain of Zion which is desolate: the foxes walk upon it." the Revised Version, margin also has "jackals" in   Judges 15:4 f, 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. In   Song of Solomon 2:15 we have a reference to the fondness of the fox for grapes. In   Matthew 8:20 and   Luke 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. In   Luke 13:32 Jesus compares Herod to a fox.

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Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Fox'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/f/fox.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.