Devine Scripture

Matthew 8:20

What does Matthew 8:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 8:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 8:20 means

Jesus directly responds to the scribe's enthusiastic declaration by revealing the harsh reality of His own life: He has no permanent home or place of rest. Unlike animals that have their own dwellings, the Son of Man exists without a fixed abode. This statement serves as a stark warning, confronting the scribe's potentially romanticized view of following Jesus with the inconvenient truth that discipleship often involves significant personal sacrifice and discomfort.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Jesus said to him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of heaven have a resting-place; but the Son of man has nowhere to put his head.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and Jesus saith to him, `The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven places of rest, but the Son of Man hath not where he may lay the head.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Jesus saith to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jesus says to him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven roosting-places; but the Son of man has not where he may lay his head.

Context

This verse directly replies to the scribe’s eager pledge, clarifying the profound cost of following Jesus. It immediately follows the scribe's declaration and precedes a similar challenge to another potential disciple, emphasizing Jesus' teaching that true discipleship involves radical self-denial and a willingness to embrace hardship, thus framing the subsequent teachings about commitment.

v.19And there came a scribe, and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

v.20This passage

v.21And another of the disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 2:7

    And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

  • Luke 2:16

    And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

  • Luke 2:12

    And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

  • Psalms 84:3

    Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, My King, and my God.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:9

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.

  • Psalms 104:17

    Where the birds make their nests: As for the stork, the fir-trees are her house.

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