Mark 7:24-30

A Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith

7:24 After Jesus ¹  left there, he went to the region of Tyre. ²  When he went into a house, he did not want anyone to know, but ³  he was not able to escape notice. 7:25 Instead, a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit ⁴  immediately heard about him and came and fell at his feet. 7:26 The woman was a Greek, of Syrophoenician origin. She ⁵  asked him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 7:27 He said to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and to throw it to the dogs.” ⁶  7:28 She answered, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 7:29 Then ⁷  he said to her, “Because you said this, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” 7:30 She went home and found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

[7:24]  ¹ tn Grk “He”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:24]  ² tc Most mss, including early and important witnesses (א A B Ë^1,13 33 2427 Ï lat), have here καὶ Σιδῶνος (kai Sidwno", “and Sidon”). The Western text, as well as several other important mss (D L W Δ Θ 28 565 it), lack the words. Although the external evidence is on the side of inclusion, it is difficult to explain why scribes would omit the mention of Sidon. On the other hand, the parallels in v. 31 and Matt 15:21 would be sufficient motivation for scribes to add Sidon here. Furthermore, every other mention of Tyre in the Gospels is accompanied by Sidon, putting pressure on scribes to conform this text as well. The shorter reading therefore, though without compelling external evidence on its side, is strongly supported by internal evidence, rendering judgment on its authenticity fairly certain.

[7:24]  ³ tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[7:25]  ⁴ sn Unclean spirit refers to an evil spirit.

[7:26]  ⁵ tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[7:27]  ⁶ tn Or “lap dogs, house dogs,” as opposed to dogs on the street. The diminutive form originally referred to puppies or little dogs, then to house pets. In some Hellenistic uses κυνάριον (kunarion) simply means “dog.”

[7:29]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.