Matthew 15:27

The NET Bible®

"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

King James Version (1611)
And she said, Trueth Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crummes which fall from their masters table.

King James Version
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

English Standard Version
She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

New American Standard Bible
And she said, "Yes, Lord; but please help, for even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

New Century Version
The woman said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

Amplified Bible
She said, "Yes, Lord; but even the pet dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their [young] masters' table."

Geneva Bible (1587)
But she said, Trueth, Lord: yet in deede the whelpes eate of the crommes, which fall from their masters table.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

Legacy Standard Bible
But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

Berean Standard Bible
"Yes, Lord," she said, "even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."

Contemporary English Version
"Lord, that's true," the woman said, "but even dogs get the crumbs that fall from their owner's table."

Complete Jewish Bible
She said, "That is true, sir, but even the dogs eat the leftovers that fall from their master's table."

Darby Translation
But she said, Yea, Lord; for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the table of their masters.

Easy-to-Read Version
The woman said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the pieces of food that fall from their master's table."

George Lamsa Translation
But she said Yes, my Lord, even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the master''s tray, and they live.

Good News Translation
"That's true, sir," she answered, "but even the dogs eat the leftovers that fall from their masters' table."

Lexham English Bible
So she said, "Yes, Lord, for even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."

Literal Translation
But she said, Yes, Lord; for even the little dogs eat of the crumbs falling from the table of their lords.

American Standard Version
But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

Bible in Basic English
But she said, Yes, Lord: but even the dogs take the bits from under their masters' table.

Hebrew Names Version
But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

International Standard Version
She said, "Yes, Lord. But even the puppies eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' tables."

Etheridge Translation
But she said, Even so, my Lord; yet the dogs eat from the crumbs that fall from the tables of their masters, and live.

Murdock Translation
And she said: Even so, my Lord; yet the dogs eat of the fragments that fall from the tables of their masters, and live.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
She aunswered and sayde, trueth Lorde: and yet litle dogges eate of the crummes, which fall fro their maisters table.

English Revised Version
But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

World English Bible
But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And she said, True, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Be it so, Sir," she said, "for even the dogs eat the scraps which fall from their masters' tables."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And she seide, Yhis, Lord; for whelpis eten of the crummes, that fallen doun fro the bord of her lordis.

Update Bible Version
But she said, Yes, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

Webster's Bible Translation
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crums which fall from their master's table.

New King James Version
And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

New Living Translation
She replied, "That's true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters' table."

New Life Bible
She said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the pieces that fall from the table of their owners."

New Revised Standard
She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, she, said, True, Lord! for, even the little dogs, eat of the crumbs which are falling from the table of, their masters.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But she said: Yea, Lord; for the whelps also eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.

Revised Standard Version
She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
She answered and sayde: truthe Lorde: neverthelesse the whelpes eate of the cromes which fall from their masters table.

Young's Literal Translation
And she said, `Yes, sir, for even the little dogs do eat of the crumbs that are falling from their lords' table;'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It is trueth LORDE (sayde she) Neuertheles the whelpes eate of the crommes, that fall fro their lordes table.

Mace New Testament (1729)
'tis true, Lord, said she: yet even puppies eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table.

THE MESSAGE
She was quick: "You're right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master's table."

Simplified Cowboy Version
"That is true my Lord," she said, "but even city slickers are given one ride by a gentle cowboy."

Contextual Overview

²¹ After going out from there, Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that area came and cried out, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is horribly demon-possessed!" ²³ But he did not answer her a word. Then his disciples came and begged him, "Send her away, because she keeps on crying out after us." ²⁴ So he answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." ²⁵ But she came and bowed down before him and said, "Lord, help me!" ²⁶ "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs," he said. ²⁷ "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." ²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Truth: Matthew 8:8, Genesis 32:10, Job 40:4, Job 40:5, Job 42:2-6, Psalms 51:4, Psalms 51:5, Ezekiel 16:63, Daniel 9:18, Luke 7:6, Luke 7:7, Luke 15:18, Luke 15:19, Luke 18:13, Luke 23:40-42, Romans 3:4, Romans 3:19, 1 Corinthians 15:8, 1 Corinthians 15:9, 1 Timothy 1:13-15

yet: Matthew 5:45, Luke 16:21, Romans 3:29, Romans 10:12, Ephesians 3:8, Ephesians 3:19

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 9:8 - a dead dog 2 Kings 5:11 - Naaman Song of Solomon 6:5 - away Isaiah 56:3 - The Lord hath

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And she saith, truth, Lord,.... She owns all that he had said to be true, that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel: that she was indeed but a dog, a poor sinful creature, and unworthy of any favour; and that it was not right and fitting that all the children's bread should be taken from them and given to dogs:

yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table. The Syriac and Persic versions add "and live": thus she wisely lays hold upon and improves in a very beautiful manner, in her own favour, what seemed to be so much against her. It is observed q of the Syrophoenicians in general, that they have all, in their common talk, something ηδυ και κεχαρισμενον "pleasant and graceful", as there is indeed in this smart reply of her's, who was one of that people. She suggests that though the Gentiles were but dogs, and she one of them; yet their common Lord and Master had a propriety in them, and they in him; and were to be maintained and fed, and ought to live, though not in such fulness of favours and blessings, as the Jews, the children of God: nor did she desire their affluence, only that a crumb of mercy might be given her, that her poor daughter might be healed; which was but a small favour, in comparison of the numerous ones he heaped upon the children, the Jews: nor would this be any more detrimental to them, than it is to the children, for the dogs, under the table, to eat of the crumbs that fall.

q Eunapius in Vita Libanii.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This narrative is also found in Mark 7:24-30.

The coasts of Tyre and Sidon - These cities were on the seacoast or shore of the Mediterranean. See the notes at Matthew 11:21. Jesus went there for the purpose of concealment Mark 7:24, perhaps still to avoid Herod.

Matthew 15:22

A woman of Canaan - This woman is called, also, a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, Mark 7:26

In ancient times, the whole land, including Tyre and Sidon, was in the possession of the Canaanites, and called Canaan. The Phoenicians were descended from the Canaanites. The country, including Tyre and Sidon, was called Phoenicia, or Syro-Phoenicia. That country was taken by the Greeks under Alexander the Great, and those cities, in the time of Christ, were Greek cities. This woman was therefore a Gentile, living under the Greek government, and probably speaking the Greek language. She was by birth a Syro-Phoenician, born in that country, and descended, therefore, from the ancient Canaanites. All these names might, with propriety, be given to her.

Coasts - Regions or countries.

Thou son of David - Descendant of David. See the notes at Matthew 1:1. The phrase here means the Messiah.

Is grievously vexed with a devil - See the notes at Matthew 4:24. The woman showed great earnestness. She cried unto him, and fell at his feet, Mark 7:25.

Matthew 15:23

But he answered her not a word - This was done to test her faith, and that there might be exhibited to the apostles an example of the effect of persevering supplication.

The result shows that it was not unwillingness to aid her, or neglect of her. It was proper that the strength of her faith should be fully tried.

Matthew 15:24

But he answered and said, I am not sent ... - This answer was made to the woman, not to the disciples.

The “lost sheep of the house of Israel” were the Jews. He came first to them. He came as their expected Messiah. He came to preach the gospel himself to the Jews only. Afterward it was preached to the Gentiles, but the ministry of Jesus was confined almost entirely to the Jews.

Matthew 15:25

She came and worshipped - That is, bowed down to him or did him reverence.

See the notes at Matthew 8:2.

Lord, help me! - A proper cry for a poor sinner, who needs the help of the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 15:26

But he answered and said, It is not meet ... - That is, it is not appropriate or proper.

Children’s bread - The Jews considered themselves as the special children of God.

To all other nations they were accustomed to apply terms of contempt, of which dogs was the most common. The Muslims still apply the term “dogs” to Christians, and Christians and Jews to each other. The term is designed as an expression of the highest contempt. The Saviour means to say that he was sent to the Jews. The woman was a Gentile. He meant merely using a term in common use, and designed to test her faith in the strongest manner - that it did not comport with the design of his personal ministry to apply benefits intended for the Jews to others. Evidently he cannot be understood as intending to justify or sanction the use of such terms, or calling names. He meant to try her faith. As if he had said, “You are a Gentile; I am a Jew. The Jews call themselves children of God. You they vilify and abuse, calling you a dog. Are you willing to receive of a Jew, then, a favor? Are you willing to submit to these appellations to receive a favor of one of that nation, and to acknowledge your dependence on a people that so despise you?” It was, therefore, a trial of her faith, and was not a lending of his sanction to the propriety of the abusive term. He regarded her with a different feeling.

Matthew 15:27

And she said, Truth, Lord ... - What you say is true.

Let it be that the best food should be given to the children - let the Jews have the chief benefit of thy ministry; but the dogs beneath the table eat the crumbs. So let me be regarded as a dog, a pagan, as unworthy of everything. Yet grant one exertion of that almighty power displayed so signally among the Jews, and heal the despised daughter of a despised heathen mother.”

Matthew 15:28

Great is thy faith - That is, thy trust, confidence.

The word here seems to include, also, the humility and perseverance manifested in pressing her suit. The daughter was healed then. Going home, she found her well and composed, Mark 7:30.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 15:27. Truth, Lord — ναικυριε, Yes, Lord. This appears to be not so much an assent, as a bold reply to our Lord's reason for apparently rejecting her suit.

The little dogs share with the children, for they eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. I do not desire what is provided for these highly favoured children, only what they leave: a single exertion of thy almighty power, in the healing of my afflicted daughter, is all that I wish for; and this the highly favoured Jews can well spare, without lessening the provision made for themselves. Is not this the sense of this noble woman's reply?