Devine Scripture

Mark 7:26

What does Mark 7:26 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 7:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 7:26 means

The text identifies the woman as a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race, and her petition: she begs Jesus to cast out the demon from her daughter. The clarification of her Gentile identity emphasizes the inclusive reach of Jesus’ compassion and challenges prevailing boundaries. Her plea for deliverance demonstrates persistent faith. Mark gives her background to highlight the social and religious distance between her and Jesus’ usual Jewish audience, making the ensuing dialogue and its outcome theologically and missionally significant.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-phoenician by birth: and she made a request to him that he would send the evil spirit out of her daughter.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phenician by nation--and was asking him, that the demon he may cast forth out of her daughter.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophenician born. And she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

(and the woman was a Greek, Syrophenician by race), and asked him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.

Context

This verse clarifies who the woman is and why her request matters: she represents the Gentiles and approaches Jesus for a deliverance that Jewish leaders might have considered outside their concern. The introduction leads directly into Jesus’ testing reply and her exemplary faith.

v.25But straightway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.

v.26This passage

v.27And he said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 49:12

    Lo, these shall come from far; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

  • Matthew 15:22

    And 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.

  • Galatians 3:28

    There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.

  • Colossians 3:11

    where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

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