9:58a

This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Some English versions (English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible) translate it that way. The New Living Translation (2004) translates it as “But” in order to show a contrast, since Jesus’ response implied that the life of a disciple was more difficult than the man may have expected. The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction, and several other versions (Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New International Version, NET Bible) also do not translate it. Connect 9:58a to 9:57b in a way that is natural in your language.

Jesus replied: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus replied is literally “And Jesus said to him.” Several English versions translate it that way. Use a natural way in your language to introduce a response like this.

Foxes have dens: The clause Foxes have dens implies that foxes have dens to sleep in. Foxes move around a lot, but they have a definite place they can return to that is their home. In some languages it is helpful to make this explicit. For example:

Foxes have ⌊their own⌋ dens ⌊to sleep in⌋

Foxes: Foxes are wild animals that look like small dogs. They live in holes/burrows or dens in the ground or in natural shelters such as caves. In languages where there is no word for “foxes,” you can:

• Use a more general expression. For example:

small wild animals

• Use the term in your language for a local animal that lives in a hole or burrow. Choose an animal that is as similar to a fox as possible. For example:

coyote
-or-
wild dog
-or-
civet cat

Translate this term in the way that is most natural in your language.

birds of the air have nests: The clause birds of the air have nests implies that birds have nests where they raise their young or roosts (resting places) where they regularly sleep. Other ways to translate this are:

birds live/sleep in nests
-or-
wild birds have places where they go to rest/roost

birds of the air: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as birds of the air was a common way to refer to wild birds that fly in the air. Another way to translate this is:

birds of the sky (NET Bible)

In some languages it may be more natural to leave some of this information implicit. For example:

wild birds
-or-
birds (Good News Translation)

The phrase “birds of the air” also occurs in 8:5c.

nests: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nests can refer to either “nests” or “roosts.” Use a term in your language that refers to a place where birds normally return at night to sleep.

9:58b

but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here introduces a contrast with the previous verse part. Foxes and birds had regular places to sleep. In contrast to them, Jesus had no regular home where he and his disciples could sleep at night. People in Nazareth had forced Jesus to leave, and he himself had decided to leave Capernaum. The Samaritans had also refused to welcome him.

the Son of Man: Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man. In some languages it may be necessary to make it clear that Jesus was referring to himself:

⌊I,⌋ the Son of Man

The phrase Son of Man also occurs in 9:22a.

has no place to lay His head: The phrase has no place to lay His head means here that Jesus had no permanent house where he and his disciples could sleep at night. He did not mean that he never put his head down or that he never slept anywhere. Other ways to translate this phrase include:

doesn’t have a place to call his own (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
has no regular place to sleep

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