And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus calls Herod a "fox" not just for being sly, but for the cunning way he plots to get Jesus out of his territory, disguised as helpful advice. Jesus’ response reveals his divine awareness: he’s not just performing miracles, but working through a divine timeline, with his ultimate completion—his passion and resurrection—already in view.
And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Certain Pharisees, feigning concern for Jesus' safety, warn him that Herod intends to kill him, urging him to flee. Jesus, seeing through their ploy, instructs them to tell "that fox"—Herod—that He is continuing His work of casting out demons and healing until His mission is complete. He acknowledges His imminent death but declares it will occur in Jerusalem, not at Herod's whim, before He moves on to fulfill His ultimate purpose.
Jesus uses a sharp, cutting word for Herod. Why call him a 'fox'? What does this tell us about the nature of spiritual opposition?
When the Pharisees warn Jesus about Herod wanting to kill him, Jesus doesn't dismiss the threat but re-frames it. He calls Herod a 'fox.' This isn't just a casual insult; the 'fox' in Scripture often represents cunning, craftiness, and a destructive hidden agenda.
Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, was known for his political maneuvering and his illicit marriage. Jesus sees through the pretense of the Pharisees (who may have been acting on Herod's behalf or just trying to scare Jesus) and directly addresses Herod's underlying motives.
The 'fox' symbolizes a creature that operates subtly, often at night, seeking to undermine and destroy. Jesus is saying, 'I see your hidden plots, Herod. Your cunning won't stop me.' This highlights that spiritual warfare isn't always about overt battles, but often about hidden schemes and deceptions.
Jesus doesn't just deflect the threat; he lays out a divine timetable. What does 'today and tomorrow, and the third day' signify for his mission?
Jesus' response to the 'fox' is a masterful declaration of his divine authority and his adherence to God's plan. He says, 'I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.'
This isn't about Herod's schedule; it's about Jesus' divinely appointed mission. 'Today and tomorrow' represent the immediate, ongoing work of his ministry – healing the sick, casting out demons, proclaiming the good news. These are the visible signs of God's kingdom breaking in.
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'And the third day I finish my course' is a profound statement. It signifies the completion of his work, culminating in his death and resurrection. It's a prophetic glimpse into the Passion week. Jesus is declaring that his path is set, moving toward Jerusalem and the cross, and nothing, not even Herod's threats or the Pharisees' warnings, can alter this divine trajectory. He will complete what the Father sent him to do.
Understand the original words
alōpēx · Greek Noun
A term referring to the ruler Herod Antipas; biblically and culturally, to call someone a 'fox' implies craftiness, cunning, and treachery.
daimonion · Greek Noun
Spiritual beings who rebelled against God and are associated with evil, sickness, and the opposition to God's kingdom. Jesus' authority over them demonstrates his messianic power and the inauguration of God's reign.
Jesus's defiant response reveals his awareness of Herod's cunning ('fox') and his own impending death in Jerusalem, framing his mission as divinely appointed and unstoppable by human plots.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus ministering in Galilee
Jesus spends most of his public ministry in Galilee, a region under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Pharisees warn Jesus about Herod
Some Pharisees approach Jesus, feigning concern and warning him that Herod Antipas intends to kill him. Their true motive is likely to intimidate Jesus into leaving the region.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus sends message to Herod
Jesus instructs the Pharisees to tell Herod ('that fox') that he will continue his work of casting out demons and healing for two more days, and on the third day he will be 'perfected' or finished.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus's journey to Jerusalem
Shortly after this warning, Jesus resolutely turns his face towards Jerusalem, understanding that prophets are often killed in that city. This marks the beginning of his final journey to his crucifixion.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion of Jesus in Jerusalem
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem during Passover, fulfilling his own prophecy and completing the work of salvation.
Jesus, like a shepherd, contrasts Himself with a hired hand who abandons the sheep when danger appears, highlighting His commitment to His flock even in the face of threats, much like Jesus' own resolve in Luke 13:32.
Hebrews 5:8-9This passage speaks of Jesus learning obedience through His sufferings and, once perfected, becoming the source of eternal salvation. This echoes the idea in Luke 13:32 of Jesus' 'perfection' or completion through His ultimate suffering.
Philippians 2:5-8This passage describes Jesus' humility and self-emptying, taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross. This profound obedience to God's will, even when facing death, parallels Jesus' determined course in Luke 13:32.
1 Corinthians 15:45-46Paul refers to the first Adam as an earthly type and the last Adam (Christ) as a life-giving spirit, with the spiritual coming after the physical. This order of things, where the earthly life leads to a perfected, spiritual state, provides a backdrop for Jesus' own progression toward His 'perfection' through death and resurrection.
calvinLuke 13:31-33: "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee."
- The same day some of the Pharisees came, saying to him, Depart, and go hence: for Herod intends to kill thee. 32. And he said to them, Go, tell that fox, Lo, I cast out devils, and I perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am completed. [280] 33. But yet I must walk today and tomorrow, and the following day; for it is not a usual occurre…
jfbLuke 13:32: "And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."
- that fox—that crafty, cruel enemy of God's innocent servants.Behold, I cast out devils and I do cures—that is, "Plot on and ply thy wiles; I also have My plans; My works of mercy are nearing completion, but some yet remain; I have work for to-day and to-morrow too, and the third day; by that time I shall be where his jurisdict…
Jesus calls Herod a "fox" not just for being sly, but for the cunning way he plots to get Jesus out of his territory, disguised as helpful advice. Jesus’ response reveals his divine awareness: he’s not just performing miracles, but working through a divine timeline, with his ultimate completion—his passion and resurrection—already in view.
Certain Pharisees, feigning concern for Jesus' safety, warn him that Herod intends to kill him, urging him to flee. Jesus, seeing through their ploy, instructs them to tell "that fox"—Herod—that He is continuing His work of casting out demons and healing until His mission is complete. He acknowledges His imminent death but declares it will occur in Jerusalem, not at Herod's whim, before He moves on to fulfill His ultimate purpose.
Certain Pharisees, feigning concern for Jesus' safety, warn him that Herod intends to kill him, urging him to flee. Jesus, seeing through their ploy, instructs them to tell "that fox"—Herod—that He is continuing His work of casting out demons and healing until His mission is complete. He acknowledges His imminent death but declares it will occur in Jerusalem, not at Herod's whim, before He moves on to fulfill His ultimate purpose.
"And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course." — Jesus calls Herod a "fox" not just for being sly, but for the cunning way he plots to get Jesus out of his territory, disguised as helpful advice. Jesus’ response reveals his divine awareness: he’s n…
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Last reviewed October 2026