ἀλώπηξ (G258) — Greek Lexicon

ἀλώπηξ

alṓpēx

G258 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A fox, a small carnivorous animal of the dog family; by extension and in figurative use, a person regarded as crafty, cunning, or sly. While the primary sense refers to the animal itself, the term can metaphorically describe an individual whose behavior is cunning or deceptive, often with a negative nuance.

Semantic Range

fox (the animal), a cunning or crafty person, cunning or slyness (figurative)

Root / Etymology

The precise etymology is uncertain. The word ἀλώπηξ has no clear cognates in Indo-European languages; possible pre-Greek or substrate origin has been suggested, but without confirmation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek literature, ἀλώπηξ primarily refers to the animal, the fox, often symbolizing cunning or trickery, as in Aesop's fables and works by Aristophanes or Herodotus. The fox's reputation for cunning appears in numerous proverbial and literary contexts, contributing to its metaphorical use for describing sly or crafty individuals. In the Septuagint, the term translates Hebrew שׁוּעָל (shûʿāl), similarly denoting both the animal and (rarely) cleverness. In New Testament usage (e.g., Luke 13:32), ἀλώπηξ serves as a figurative epithet for someone regarded as deviously clever or politically sly (e.g., Herod Antipas). Standard English translations often render both the literal and figurative uses as 'fox,' but the underlying metaphor of cunning or slyness is crucial for interpretation. The figurative sense aligns with Greco-Roman cultural associations of the fox as a symbol of subtlety (cf. Latin 'vulpes').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; a fox, i.e. (figuratively) a cunning person:--fox.

Root Family

ἀλώπηξ (alōpēx) — fox, cunning, slyness

Root ἀλώπηξ fox, to be cunning, to be sly

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G258-01`	ἀλώπεκες	alopekes	`N NOM F PL`	foxes	foxes	foxes	2
`G258-02`	ἀλώπεκι	alopeki	`N DAT F SG`	fox	to a fox	fox	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G258-01`	Matthew 8:20	ἀλώπεκες	alopekes	`N NOM F PL`	foxes	foxes	foxes
`G258-01`	Luke 9:58	ἀλώπεκες	alopekes	`N NOM F PL`	foxes	foxes	foxes
`G258-02`	Luke 13:32	ἀλώπεκι	alopeki	`N DAT F SG`	fox	to a fox	fox

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