Mark 7:26 kjv
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
Mark 7:26 nkjv
The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
Mark 7:26 niv
The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
Mark 7:26 esv
Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
Mark 7:26 nlt
and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia,
Mark 7 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 15:22-28 | "And behold, a Canaanite woman...begged him, 'Have mercy on me, O Lord...'" | Parallel account, calls her "Canaanite," highlighting her ethnicity. |
| Mk 7:27 | "And he said to her, 'Let the children be fed first...'" | Immediate continuation of the dialogue, explaining Jesus' initial resistance. |
| Mt 8:5-10 | "When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him... 'I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.'" | Another example of a Gentile with great faith acknowledged by Jesus. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | "God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." | Peter's revelation regarding the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan. |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." | Prophetic word about God's salvation extending beyond Israel to the Gentiles. |
| Lk 7:1-10 | The centurion's faith and humility, leading to Jesus healing his servant. | Similar account to Matthew 8, emphasizing Gentile faith and Christ's authority. |
| Mk 1:32-34 | Jesus healing many, casting out many demons. | Jesus' demonstrated authority over sickness and demons is a known fact by this time. |
| Mk 9:17-29 | The father who brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus for deliverance. | Another desperate parent seeking Jesus for their child's demon possession. |
| Jas 5:16 | "...The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." | Emphasizes the power of intercessory prayer, like the woman's. |
| Lk 11:8 | Parable of the friend at midnight: "...he will rise and give him whatever he needs because of his impudence." | Illustrates the principle of persistence in prayer and receiving answers. |
| Ps 103:3 | "who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases..." | God's compassionate character as healer and deliverer. |
| Acts 15:7-11 | Peter affirms the inclusion of Gentiles by faith. | Theological foundation for Gentile inclusion, echoing events like this one. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Explains the unity in Christ that transcends all cultural and social divisions. |
| Eph 2:11-13 | "Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh...were separated from Christ..." | Highlights the past separation of Gentiles and their present inclusion through Christ. |
| Rom 10:12 | "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all..." | Emphasizes God's universal lordship and availability of salvation for all. |
| Jn 4:9-42 | Jesus's interaction with the Samaritan woman. | Another instance where Jesus crosses social/religious barriers to interact with a non-Jew. |
| Lk 8:26-39 | Jesus casts out a legion of demons from the Gerasene demoniac. | Further demonstration of Jesus' supreme power over demons. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | "...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." | Theological purpose of Jesus's ministry, which includes casting out demons. |
| Mk 10:47-48 | Blind Bartimaeus crying out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" | Similar desperate plea for mercy to Jesus for healing. |
| 2 Kgs 4:18-37 | The Shunammite woman persistently seeking Elisha for her dead son. | An Old Testament example of a mother's intercession and persistence for her child. |
| Mt 9:27 | Two blind men follow Jesus, calling out for mercy, and are healed by their faith. | Shows Jesus responding to those who cry out for mercy with faith. |
Mark 7 verses
Mark 7 26 Meaning
Mark 7:26 describes a woman's identity and her purpose in seeking Jesus. She was a Gentile from the region of Tyre, described as Greek (meaning Hellenistic) and Syrophoenician by birth. Her urgent request to Jesus was for Him to cast a demon out of her daughter. This highlights her profound faith, despite being outside of the typical boundaries of Jesus's initial ministry to Israel, and her deep concern for her child.
Mark 7 26 Context
Mark chapter 7 primarily focuses on Jesus's encounter with the Pharisees and scribes regarding Jewish dietary laws and traditions, specifically hand-washing. Jesus critiques their emphasis on external rituals over the true state of the heart and the commandments of God (Mk 7:1-23). Immediately following this profound teaching on inner purity and spiritual defilement, Jesus intentionally travels to the region of Tyre and Sidon (Mk 7:24), Gentile territory. This geographical shift signals a broader scope of His ministry, beyond the strict confines of Jewish expectation. Mark 7:26 specifically occurs during this foray into Gentile lands, setting the stage for a dramatic encounter that challenges preconceived notions about who is worthy of divine intervention. It demonstrates that the principles of God's kingdom and the power of Jesus extend to all who come to Him in faith, irrespective of their ethnic or religious background.
Mark 7 26 Word analysis
- woman: (Greek: gunē) This simply denotes an adult female. Her identity unfolds through the subsequent descriptions.
- Greek, Syrophoenician by race: (Greek: Hellēnis, Syrophoinikissa tō genei)
- Greek (Hellēnis): In this context, it doesn't necessarily mean she was ethnically Greek but rather "Hellenistic" – she embraced Greek culture and language, distinguishing her from a Jew. It strongly implies her Gentile status in a religious and cultural sense.
- Syrophoenician by race (Syrophoinikissa tō genei): This provides her specific ethnic and geographical origin. Phoenicia was an ancient land north of Israel. "Syrophoenician" distinguishes her from "Libyophoenician" (North Africa). "By race" (tō genei) explicitly emphasizes her non-Jewish ethnic heritage, highlighting her foreignness to the Jewish audience of Jesus's primary ministry. This combination of "Greek" and "Syrophoenician" unmistakably marks her as a Gentile.
- and she was begging him: (Greek: kai ērota auton) The imperfect tense of the verb "begging" (ērota) suggests a continuous action, "she kept asking" or "she was continually imploring." This conveys her persistence and desperate earnestness. Her request was not a casual inquiry but a fervent, sustained plea.
- to cast the demon out of her daughter: (Greek: hina to daimonion ekbalē ek tēs thugatros autēs)
- cast...out (ekbalē): This verb implies forceful expulsion. It's the standard term used for exorcisms by Jesus. It highlights His authoritative power over evil spirits.
- demon (daimonion): Refers to an evil spirit or demon. This describes the specific affliction plaguing her daughter, indicating a direct spiritual malevolence rather than a physical ailment. The mother's understanding of the problem was spiritual in nature.
- out of her daughter: The demon's presence was inside her daughter, indicating possession. This mother's petition is for another, showing a mother's intense love and her vicarious faith for her child.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- A woman...Syrophoenician by race: This group of words precisely identifies the petitioner. Her background—Gentile, Hellenistic, specifically Syrophoenician—is critical because it positions her as an "outsider" relative to the typical recipients of Jesus's ministry to the "lost sheep of Israel" (Mt 15:24). This identity underscores the universality of God's grace and challenges Jewish particularism. It sets up the unique dialogue and initial reluctance of Jesus in the following verses.
- and she was begging him to cast the demon out of her daughter: This phrase illuminates her desperate motivation and unwavering focus. The persistence in her begging, combined with the severe nature of her daughter's affliction (demon possession), conveys the profound need and earnestness behind her appeal. It's a testament to a mother's love, driving her to transcend cultural and religious barriers to seek help for her suffering child, demonstrating powerful, intercessory faith.
Mark 7 26 Bonus section
The account of the Syrophoenician woman (paralleled in Mt 15:21-28 as the Canaanite woman) is crucial for understanding the progression of the Gospel message. Jesus's journey to Tyre, though perhaps initially for quiet time or teaching disciples away from the crowds, led to a divine encounter that demonstrated His mission extending beyond Israel's physical borders. The detail of her being "Greek" indicates not just her non-Jewish ethnicity but her embrace of Hellenistic culture, making her culturally distinct from the Galilee region and highlighting the breaking down of socio-cultural barriers. Her immediate appeal for an exorcism highlights common perceptions of Jesus's power over demonic forces that had clearly spread even into Gentile territories. This incident profoundly prefigures the later Great Commission, signaling that the Kingdom of God, personified in Jesus, would eventually welcome and deliver all who approach Him in faith, irrespective of their background. It challenged the disciples' narrow view of God's people and paved the way for the apostolic ministry to the Gentiles.
Mark 7 26 Commentary
Mark 7:26 introduces a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry, marking a significant step towards the universal outreach of the Gospel. Following debates with Jewish religious leaders about defilement and traditions, Jesus ventures into Gentile territory, specifically Tyre. This physical movement signifies a spiritual and theological boundary-crossing. The woman, identified not just as a Gentile but specifically by her Syrophoenician background and Greek cultural orientation, represents the very people considered outside the covenant promises of Israel. Her presence before Jesus is a stark contrast to the religious elite he just debated. Her desperate plea for her daughter, who is afflicted by a demon, immediately establishes the deep need that transcends religious and ethnic divides. This verse lays the groundwork for a profound demonstration of faith, persistence, and Jesus's extending mercy to all, preparing the narrative for Jesus to reveal the truth that God's grace is not confined by human boundaries but flows to all who believe. It's an example of:
- A mother's unwavering love: A powerful motivation for seeking help.
- Faith transcending boundaries: Her belief in Jesus's power surpasses her ethnic or religious "outsider" status.
- The power of persistent prayer: Even before Jesus's full response, her continuous begging foreshadows her determined advocacy.