Jesus called Herod a fox after some Pharisees reported that Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Jesus' response challenged any such plans: "Tell Herod I've got work to do first." Jesus was not implying that Herod was sly, rather he was commenting on Herod's ineptitude, or inability, to carry out his threat. Jesus questioned the tetrarch's pedigree, moral stature and leadership, and put the tetrarch "in his place." This exactly fits the rabbinic usage of "fox." Fox did not mean then what it means now. Jesus was cutting Herod down to size, and Jesus' audience may have had an inward smile of appreciation at the retort.

Herod was a pompous pretender. Jesus was direct. Antipas was a shu·al ben shu·al (a fox, the son of a fox). In other words - a small-fry.