Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 7:28
And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
28. yet the dogs ] Rather, Yea Lord, for even the little dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. So it is rightly translated in Wyclif’s and Cranmer’s Versions, following the Vulgate “Etiam, Domine, nam et catelli edunt.” “ Truth it is Maister, for indeed the whelpes eat under the table, of the childerns crommes.” Geneva, 1557. Her “yea” is the “yea” of admission not of contradiction. She accepts the declaration of Christ, and in that very declaration she affirms is involved the granting of her petition. “Saidst Thou dogs? It is well; I accept the title and the place; for the dogs have a portion of the meat not the first, not the children’s portion, but a portion still the crumbs which fall from the table.” Her words speak to us even now across the centuries, and our Church adopts her words of faith in the “Prayer of Humble Access” at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
crumbs ] These were probably something more than what would accidentally fall from the table. It was the custom during the meal for the guests after thrusting their hands into the common dish to wipe them on the soft white part of the bread, which, having thus used, they threw to the dogs.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
28. And she answered and said untohim, Yes, Lordor, as the same word is rendered in Mt15:27. “Truth, Lord.”
yet the dogs eat of thechildren’s crumbs“which fall from their master’s table”(Mt 15:27). “I thankThee, O blessed One, for that word! That’s my whole case. Not of thechildren? True. A dog? True also: Yet the dogs under the tableare allowed to eat of the children’s crumbsthe droppings fromtheir master’s full table: Give me that, and I am content: One crumbof power and grace from Thy table shall cast the devil out of mydaughter.” Oh, what lightning quickness, what reach ofinstinctive ingenuity, do we behold in this heathen woman!
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And she answered and said unto him, yes, Lord,…. Agreeing to, and acquiescing in, what he said; which she seemed to have understood, though delivered in a proverbial way; and very appropriately replies,
yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs; which they leave, or let fall: signifying that she did not envy the blessings of the Jews, or desire any thing might be done injurious to them; only that this favour might be granted her, which she owned she was unworthy of, that her daughter might be healed. She tacitly owns, that the character of dogs belonged to the Gentiles, and to her and hers among the rest; that they were vile and base in themselves, inferior to the Jews, as to privileges, like dogs under the table; that the provisions with which the table of the Gospel ministry was furnished, was not for them; at least, that they were quite undeserving of them: but however, whereas dogs were allowed to eat crumbs, which now and then fell from the table, or out of the children’s hands and laps; so such unworthy Gentiles as she, might be allowed a small benefit or favour by the bye, when it did not take from, and was no disadvantage to the Jews;
[See comments on Mt 15:27].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Even the dogs under the table ( ). A delightful picture. Even the little dogs () under the table
eat of the children’s crumbs ( ). Little dogs, little scraps of bread (, diminutive of , morsel), little children (, diminutive of ). Probably the little children purposely dropped a few little crumbs for the little dogs. These household dogs, pets of and loved by the children. Braid Scots has it: “Yet the wee dowgs aneath the table eat o’ the moole o’ the bairns.” “A unique combination of faith and wit” (Gould). Instead of resenting Christ’s words about giving the children’s bread to the dogs (Gentiles) in verse 27, she instantly turned it to the advantage of her plea for her little daughter.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Mark adds under the table.
The children ‘s crumbs. See on Mt 14:26. This would indicate that the little dogs were pet dogs of the children, their masters.
29, 30. Peculiar to Mark.
Laid [] . Lit., thrown. She had probably experienced some fearful convulsion when the demon departed. Compare Mr 9:22, of the demon which possessed the boy : “It hath cast him, etc. [] .” See also Mr 1:26; Mr 9:26.
32 – 37. A narrative peculiar to Mark.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And she answered and said unto Him,” (he de aperkrithe kai legei auto) “Then she replied and said to him,” in a personal confrontation appeal, and He heard her prayer, Mat 15:25-28.
2) “Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table,” (nai Kurie kai ta kunaria hupokato tes trapezes) “Indeed Lord yet the little dogs beneath the table,” Rom 15:8-9; Eph 2:12-14, the lap-dogs that stay near their masters, waiting for little morsels, not accidentally, but purposefully passed down to them. These little dogs were really apart of the family, he care of the master, she understood.
3) “Eat of the children’s crumbs.” (esthiousin apo ton psichion ton paidion) “They eat from the crumbs or morsels of the children,” Mat 7:6; Mat 10:5-6. The crumbs that fall under the table, to satisfy their hunger and their need for survival. This woman only asked for a morsel of help for herself and her afflicted girl,
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(28) Eat of the childrens crumbs.The form varies slightly from St. Matthews the crumbs that fall from their masters table, and has, perhaps, a certain vividness of antithesis.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘But she answered and says to him, “Yes, Lord. Even the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.” ’
The woman recognised humbly that what Jesus said was right and proper. He was a Jewish prophet and His message was to the Jews and concerned the God of Israel. But she had caught on to the opportunity He had left open and applied it accordingly. The pet dogs do not eat at the table but they are allowed the crumbs. Would not then the God of Israel have compassion on her despite her race?
The Pharisees had criticised the eating of bread in His presence by defiled hands, because they wanted to be rid of Him, but this woman was happy to receive even His crumbs.
‘Lord.’ Here meaning ‘sir’, but Mark wanted his readers to see its double meaning.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
Ver. 28. Yes, Lord ] See Trapp on “ Mat 15:27 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
28. . ] See on Matt.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 7:28 . , aorist, hitherto imperfect. We come now to what Mk. deems the main point of the story, the woman’s striking word. . ., the dogs under the table , waiting for morsels, a realistic touch. . ., not merely the crumbs which by chance fall from the table, but morsels surreptitiously dropt by the children (“qui panem saepe prodigunt,” Beng.) to their pets. Household dogs, part of the family, loved by the children; hard and fast line of separation impossible.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
answered and said. See notes on Deu 1:41 and on Mat 15:26, &c.
Lord. App-98. B.
under the table. A Divine supplement, here.
children’s. See App-108. Not the same word as in Mar 7:27.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
28. .] See on Matt.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 7:28. , under the table) Arguing great submission on the part of the woman. Yet she alleges as an argument the nearness [of her country to Israel; as of the dogs to their masters table].- , of the boys [Engl. Vers., losing the distinction between this and , of the children]) who often lavish bread wastely.-[52] differ from , children, Mar 7:27, a word whereby right to the fathers bread is denoted.
[52] Boys, not necessarily sons, and often used as servants.-ED. and TRANSL.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
And she
She, however, answered, saying, True, Lord! and yet the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs. Rom 11:24; Eph 2:11-22.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
yet: Psa 145:16, Isa 45:22, Isa 49:6, Mat 5:45, Luk 7:6-8, Luk 15:30-32, Act 11:17, Act 11:18, Rom 3:29, Rom 10:12, Rom 15:8, Rom 15:9, Eph 2:12-14, Eph 3:8
Reciprocal: Mat 15:26 – It is not Luk 15:31 – General Luk 16:21 – crumbs Joh 4:43 – two
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER
And she answered and said unto Him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the childrens crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
Mar 7:28-29
I. The example of faith.Though apostles entreated that she might be sent away, yet this woman cries unto our Lord, because He alone could save her. And though she had heard Him say He was not sent to those of her race, yet she repeats her entreaty, as confident He could help whom He would; she did not say, Pray for me, or Entreat for me, but Help me, as believing the help was in Himself to bestow. Our Lord was pleased to try her yet further and more sharply. But the woman, so far from being disheartened, makes for herself a fresh plea from those very words of His. She acknowledges herself a dog, and the Jews children, nay masters; but on this very ground she claims to partake a little of the blessed privileges of His presence and healing, so fully enjoyed, though so little valued by the Jews.
II. It was His gracious will to give her occasion to exercise and show forth this faith and humility. Else, if it had been His purpose from the first to deny her, He would have refused her still, for He was not a mere man that He should repent and change His mind, so that it was not in sternness He kept silence, but in order to unfold the concealed treasure of her humility and faith; and also that we might draw from her history a full assurance that, however severe and repeated the discouragements we may meet with in prayer, and in our endeavours after holiness, we have but to persevere in faith with humility, and we shall obtain in the end an abundance of blessings the more ample the longer our faith is tried.
Illustration
Fathers and mothers are especially bound to remember the case of this woman. They cannot give their children new hearts. They can give them Christian education, and show them the way of life; but they cannot give them a will to choose Christs service, and a mind to love God. Yet there is one thing they can always dothey can pray for them. They can pray for the conversion of profligate sons, who will have their own way, and run greedily into sin. They can pray for the conversion of worldly daughters, who set their affections on things below, and love pleasure more than God. Such prayers are heard on high. Such prayers will often bring down blessings. Never, never let us forget that the children for whom many prayers have been offered, seldom finally perish. Let us pray more for our sons and daughters. Even when they will not let us speak to them about religion, they cannot prevent us speaking for them to God.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
8
The woman did not resent the comparison, but was willing to accept the temporal healing of her daughter as crumbs, and leave the bread of the Lord’s teaching to the children of his Father’s family, namely, the Jews.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
7:28 And she answered and said unto him, {p} Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
(p) As if she said, “It is as thou sayest Lord, for it is enough for the dogs if they can but gather up the crumbs that are under the table; therefore I crave the crumbs and not the children’s bread.”