Good morning, Father Angelo,

I’m Andrea, and this time I have a question to ask you. It’s certainly unusual and perhaps bizarre, but it came to me spontaneously and refers to the text highlighted in yellow. Jesus uses incorrect words in the sense that foxes don’t rest in dens nor birds in nests, but build dens or nests only when they need to reproduce, that is, when they have young. That said, I ask you if any exegete has ever asked this question, if it’s a translation problem, if Jesus expressed himself this way to make himself understood by the men of his time, or something else?

Thank you in advance for your timely response and for your worthy work in dispelling the clouds of our theological ignorance.

Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus.

Andrea

Priest’s answer

Dear Andrea,

1. Jesus’ words are correct, and you are right, although not entirely.

2. First, we need to examine what the Greek text of the Gospel, which is the original, says.

Well, literally translated, Jesus says: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests” (Luke 9:58).

So does the parallel text in Matthew 8:20.

3. You are not entirely right when you assume that Jesus said that foxes have their dens to rest in, and so do the birds of the air.

Jesus did not speak of dens or nests for the purpose of resting.

If he had said this, we would have to conclude that Jesus, who as God is the creator, did not know what foxes and birds do.

Whereas Jesus takes it for granted that foxes have dens for their own reasons, and that birds of the air build their nests for the purpose you indicated.

We must therefore be amazed by the precision of the words spoken by Jesus and the accuracy with which the evangelists reported them!

4. You’re right when you point out that something isn’t working.

What didn’t work first and foremost was the Latin translation, because it left out the verb prepare.

The verb “prepare” suggests that birds don’t build nests to rest. This is obvious to everyone. We see that they perch on branches to rest. They prepare their nests when they need them to lay their eggs.

5. The translation of the Italian Episcopal Conference also leaves out the verb prepare and adds a pronoun, “they“, which is not found in either the Greek or Latin text.

6. To the man who said to the Lord, “I will follow you wherever you go” (Lk 57), Jesus replies that the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. In other words, no matter where he is, he doesn’t prepare a bed. 

In reality, Jesus did just that.

7. I warmly and happily congratulate you for catching this inaccuracy in the translation.

Our translators are probably not experts in animal behavior and thought that leaving out the verb “prepare” meant nothing.

I bless you and gladly assure you of my prayers.

Father Angelo

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