Mark 7:28 kjv
And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
Mark 7:28 nkjv
And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."
Mark 7:28 niv
"Lord," she replied, "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
Mark 7:28 esv
But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
Mark 7:28 nlt
She replied, "That's true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children's plates."
Mark 7 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 15:27 | "And she said, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall..." | Parallel account of the Syrophoenician woman. |
| Luke 11:8 | "Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him..." | Persistence in prayer is rewarded. |
| Luke 18:1 | "...to teach them that men ought always to pray, and not to faint..." | Parable on persistent prayer. |
| Luke 18:7 | "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?" | God hears persistent cries. |
| Heb 11:6 | "But without faith it is impossible to please him..." | Faith is essential to receive from God. |
| Jas 4:6 | "...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." | Humility attracts God's grace. |
| Ps 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart..." | God delights in humility and contrite spirit. |
| Isa 56:3 | "Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me..." | Gentiles can join God's people. |
| Isa 56:7 | "...for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." | God's salvation extends to all nations. |
| Rom 10:12 | "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek..." | Salvation is for all, without ethnic bias. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity and equality in Christ, transcending previous divisions. |
| Eph 2:13 | "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." | Gentiles brought near through Christ's sacrifice. |
| Eph 3:6 | "...that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ..." | Gentiles are co-heirs in Christ. |
| Acts 10:34 | "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons..." | God's impartiality in granting salvation. |
| Matt 8:8 | "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof..." | Gentile's humble faith acknowledged by Jesus. |
| Luke 7:7 | "...but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed." | Centurion's faith in Jesus' word alone. |
| John 4:39 | "And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman..." | Jesus ministers to a marginalized group (Samaritans). |
| Mark 5:28 | "For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole." | Example of a woman's faith for healing. |
| Mark 7:27 | "But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." | The immediate context of Jesus' initial response. |
| Deut 32:21 | "...I will provoke them to jealousy with them that are no people, and with a foolish nation I will anger them." | Old Testament foreshadowing of Gentile inclusion. |
| Rom 11:11 | "...but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." | God's plan of Gentile inclusion after Israel's rejection. |
Mark 7 verses
Mark 7 28 Meaning
Mark 7:28 records the profound and quick-witted response of a Syrophoenician woman to Jesus. Having been initially tested with a metaphor that seemed to exclude her, she humbly accepts her position yet artfully reclaims her request. Her words convey a deep understanding of grace and divine abundance, asserting that even the "crumbs" of healing and blessing, which would not diminish the "children's" portion, are sufficient for her. This demonstrates her remarkable faith, persistence, and ingenuity in seeking mercy from the Lord.
Mark 7 28 Context
Mark 7:28 is nestled within a crucial section of Jesus' ministry following intense confrontation with Jewish religious leaders regarding purity laws (Mark 7:1-23). After this, Jesus intentionally withdraws from Jewish Galilee to the Gentile region of Tyre (Mark 7:24). This journey itself signifies a symbolic turning point, moving from challenging internal Jewish legalism to extending salvation beyond traditional boundaries.
Jesus' initial, seemingly harsh, statement in Mark 7:27, comparing the Jewish people to "children" who should receive the "bread" first and Gentiles to "dogs," tests the woman's faith and intent. This common Jewish derogatory term for Gentiles presented a significant hurdle. Her humble yet brilliant retort in verse 28 overturns the apparent exclusion and pushes the boundary of Jesus' immediate mission focus, setting the stage for more expansive Gentile ministry seen later in the Gospel narratives. It showcases Jesus' true compassion and willingness to respond to genuine faith, irrespective of a person's ethnicity or social standing.
Mark 7 28 Word analysis
- And she answered (apokritheisa from apokrinomai, ἀποκριθεῖσα): Signifies a direct and immediate response, reflecting her quick thinking and readiness to engage Jesus' words. It’s not a passive acceptance but an active counter-dialogue.
- and said unto him, Lord (kurie, κύριε): Her address "Lord" acknowledges His authority, even amidst a potentially discouraging exchange. It implies reverence and a recognition of His divine power, distinguishing her from many of those He encountered.
- yet (kai gar, καὶ γὰρ): This critical phrase means "for even" or "because even." It is a rhetorical device that introduces a confirming reason or explanation, but in this context, it functions to leverage Jesus' own metaphor to turn it in her favor. It's a "yes, Lord, but even so..."
- the dogs (kynaria, κυνάρια): This is a crucial diminutive form of the more common kyōn (κύων, a wild, scavenging dog). Kynaria refers to "little dogs" or "house pets," those found under or around the table, often receiving scraps. This softens the offensive Jewish metaphor and highlights her shrewd understanding of Jesus' precise choice of word. It indicates she’s not claiming to be one of the "children," but still part of the household.
- eat (esthiousin, ἐσθίουσιν): "They eat" – Present tense, indicating a regular, natural occurrence for such household animals.
- of the crumbs (apo tōn psichiōn, ἀπὸ τῶν ψιχίων): Psichion (ψιχίον) means a "small bit" or "fragment." The emphasis is on something tiny, easily available as a residual portion. This indicates a humble request for a minimal share, not the full portion of blessing reserved for Israel, demonstrating her deference and lack of demand.
- which fall (piptontōn, πιπτόντων): "Falling." This implies a byproduct or an overflow, not something actively taken or wrestled away. The crumbs are readily available without depriving anyone.
- from their masters' table (apo tēs trapezēs tōn kyriōn autōn, ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης τῶν κυρίων αὐτῶν): "From the table of their lords." This reinforces the domestic setting suggested by kynaria. The "masters" (her understanding of who "the children" and thus God's people are) are at the table, enjoying the main meal, but even within that structure, there is a natural overflow for those beneath the table. She acknowledges the hierarchy but finds a place within it.
Mark 7 28 Bonus section
- This episode in Tyre, a thoroughly Gentile region, highlights Jesus' intentional movement beyond the established boundaries of Jewish ministry. It anticipates the universal scope of the Great Commission (Mark 16:15), demonstrating God's redemptive plan unfolding gradually.
- Jesus' apparent "harshness" can be seen not as rejection but as a didactic method, both testing the woman's faith and revealing her extraordinary character to His disciples. It served as a lesson to them on the depth and breadth of faith found even among Gentiles.
- The woman’s plea for "crumbs" also implies a belief in the limitless power and grace of Jesus; for His "crumbs" were sufficient for a complete healing, indicative of God’s boundless resources.
- Her focus was not on her right to receive but on Jesus' abundance and the sheer grace available even in seemingly small portions. This aligns with a humble approach to God, receiving mercy rather than demanding rights.
Mark 7 28 Commentary
The Syrophoenician woman's reply in Mark 7:28 is a masterclass in humble faith, clever wit, and persistent petition. Instead of being offended or discouraged by Jesus' initial, testing metaphor of "children's bread" and "dogs," she embraced the low position he assigned to her. Her brilliance lay in accepting the term "little dogs" (kynaria) and extending the metaphor to logically plead for the "crumbs." She wasn't asking for the children's main meal, but for the overflow, the discarded fragments that wouldn't diminish the blessing for the rightful recipients. This revealed an astounding understanding of grace—that even the surplus of God's blessing, what might seem like a small amount, is abundant enough to heal her daughter. Her persistent, undaunted faith broke through cultural and theological barriers. This encounter underscores that God's mercy extends to all who approach Him with true faith and humility, demonstrating that His kingdom's blessings are vast enough to encompass even those initially perceived as outsiders. It challenged the disciples' narrow understanding of God's work, showing Jesus' mission to be ultimately for "all people."