Devine Scripture

Matthew 15:23

What does Matthew 15:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 15:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 15:23 means

Initially, Jesus does not respond a single word to the Canaanite woman's desperate plea. The disciples then intervene, urging Jesus to send her away because her persistent crying is causing a disturbance. Jesus's silence and the disciples' desire to dismiss her create a tense and challenging situation, highlighting the initial barrier between Jesus's Jewish ministry and the Gentile world, and setting up the test of faith the woman is about to undergo.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But he gave her no answer. And his disciples came and said to him, Send her away, for she is crying after us.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he did not answer her a word; and his disciples having come to him, were asking him, saying--`Let her away, because she crieth after us;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Who answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying: Send her away, for she crieth after us:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came to [him] and asked him, saying, Dismiss her, for she cries after us.

Context

Following the Canaanite woman's fervent plea in verse 22, this verse reveals Jesus's initial lack of response and the disciples' exasperation. This creates an immediate dramatic tension and raises questions about Jesus's intentions, providing the backdrop for His seemingly restrictive answer in the next verse and establishing the profound test of faith for the woman.

v.22And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.

v.23This passage

v.24But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 42:7

    And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly with them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

  • Psalms 28:1

    Unto thee, O Jehovah, will I call: My rock, be not thou deaf unto me; Lest, if thou be silent unto me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

  • Mark 10:47

    And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

  • Lamentations 3:8

    Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shutteth out my prayer.

  • Matthew 14:15

    And when even was come, the disciples came to him, saying, The place is desert, and the time is already past; send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.

  • Deuteronomy 8:2

    And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not.

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