📖 Biblical Definition
The fox is the wild canine of Israelite hill country — and in Scripture, a recurring figure of cunning destruction. Solomon warns of "the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes" (Song 2:15) — small predators doing disproportionate damage. Christ called Herod Antipas "that fox" when warned of his designs against Him: "Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow" (Luke 13:32). Samson harnessed three hundred foxes tail-to-tail with firebrands and set the Philistine standing grain ablaze (Judges 15:4-5). Foxes in Scripture are slippery, opportunistic, and corrosive — they prefer small destruction at scale. Watch for them in the vineyard of marriage, church, and soul.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
FOX, n.
expand to see more
1. An animal of the genus Canis, with a long, straight, bushy tail. 2. A sly, cunning fellow.
📖 Key Scripture
Song of Solomon 2:15 — "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes."
Luke 13:32 — "Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils."
Matthew 8:20 — "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."
Judges 15:4 — "Samson... caught three hundred foxes... and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity ignores small compromises; the little foxes are still spoiling the vineyard.
expand to see more
Song of Solomon 2:15 is one of the most useful verses in Scripture for marriage and for sanctification: take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines. Vineyards are not usually killed by lions; they are killed by foxes — small, persistent, slippery animals that nibble blossoms and roots until the harvest fails. Almost every collapsed marriage, ministry, or man can be traced back to little foxes that were never caught.
Christ also used the word politically. Herod Antipas, who killed John the Baptist, was a fox — cunning, opportunistic, dangerous. Modern leaders of the same disposition are common; the church needs eyes to see them and the wisdom Christ used to refuse their summons. Catch the little foxes early; refuse the political foxes calmly. The vineyard will thank you.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew shuʿal (H7776); Greek alopex (G258).
expand to see more
H7776 — shual — fox, jackal
G258 — alopex — fox
Usage
"Vineyards die by little foxes more often than by lions; catch the small ones."
"Christ called Herod a fox — political cunning is a biblical category, and the Lord names it."
"Almost every collapsed marriage can be traced to little foxes never caught."