Phōleós (φωλεός) refers to a den, burrow, or lair — the hiding place of a wild animal such as a fox. It appears in the Gospels in one of Jesus' most poignant statements about the cost of discipleship.
Jesus uses phōleós in Matthew 8:20 and Luke 9:58: 'Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.' This voluntary poverty reveals the depth of the incarnation — the Creator of all had no earthly home. The statement simultaneously warns would-be disciples of the cost of following Jesus and reveals His identification with the displaced and homeless. It echoes Isaiah 53:3 and anticipates 2 Corinthians 8:9: 'though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.' The one who owns everything chose to own nothing so that we might inherit everything.