But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Parallel translations
- WEB But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
- BSB But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
- NKJV But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
- NASB Yet He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
- NLT Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says it is not right to take the children's bread and give it to the dogs. It matters because it appears to test the woman's faith with the priority of Israel.
Overview
Using a household image, Jesus contrasts the 'children' (Israel) with 'dogs' (Gentiles), reflecting the redemptive priority of his mission. The term he uses denotes a household pet rather than a wild scavenger, softening the saying. Rather than insult, the words function as a final test, inviting the woman to a deeper expression of faith. Her humble, clever reply will show she has grasped grace better than many in Israel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Mark 7:27–28But 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.
- Matt 7:6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
- Phil 3:2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
- Eph 2:12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
- Gal 2:15We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
- Rev 22:15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
- Acts 22:21–22And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
- Rom 9:4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 15:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.