• Luke 13:32
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 32 καὶ And εἶπεν he said αὐτοῖς to them Πορευθέντες Having gone εἴπατε YOU say τῇ to the ἀλώπεκι fox ταύτῃ this Ἰδοὺ Look! ἐκβάλλω I am throwing out δαιμόνια demons καὶ and ἰάσεις healings ἀποτελῶ I am finishing off σήμερον today καὶ and αὔριον, tomorrow, καὶ and τῇ to the τρίτῃ third [day] τελειοῦμαι. I am being perfected.

  • Luke 13:32
    King James Version

    • 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.

  • Luke Study Notes—Chapter 13
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 13:32

      that fox: This animal is well-known for its craftiness or slyness, and Jesus may have been alluding to those traits when he called Herod a fox. Some scholars feel that Jesus may have combined the concepts of slyness, weakness, and insignificance in calling Herod a fox. In Jewish literature, the fox was used metaphorically of relatively weak (compare Ne 4:3) but cunning and opportunistic men, in contrast with the powerful lion, which represented a confident ruler of power and greatness. (Compare Pr 28:1; Jer 50:17; Eze 32:2.) Such a view, if valid, would amount to calling Herod a cunning, self-important ruler who was insignificant in God’s eyes. Jesus was likely passing through Herod’s territory of Perea on his way to Jerusalem when the Pharisees told Jesus that Herod wanted to kill him. It may be that Herod started this rumor, slyly hoping to cause Jesus to flee out of the territory in fear. Herod seems to have been disturbed by Jesus and his ministry. Earlier, Herod had been manipulated by his wife into executing John the Baptist, and he may have been afraid to kill another prophet of God.​—Mt 14:1, 2; Mr 6:16.

      today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will be finished: Jesus’ expression about time is not to be understood literally. Rather, he was indicating that little time remained before he would depart for Jerusalem, where he would die. His words may also show that the course of his Messianic ministry was set and would not be abbreviated, controlled, or altered by the political aims of any secular ruler.