Matthew 15:26
New International Version
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

New Living Translation
Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

English Standard Version
And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Berean Standard Bible
But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

Berean Literal Bible
And answering He said, "It is not right to take the children's bread and to cast it to the dogs."

King James Bible
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

New King James Version
But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

New American Standard Bible
Yet He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

NASB 1995
And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

NASB 1977
And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Amplified Bible
And He replied, “It is not good (appropriate, fair) to take the children’s bread and throw it to the pet dogs.”

Christian Standard Bible
He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to their dogs."”

American Standard Version
And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus replied, "It isn't right to take food away from children and feed it to dogs."

English Revised Version
And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus replied, "It's not right to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."

Good News Translation
Jesus answered, "It isn't right to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."

International Standard Version
He replied, "It's not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the puppies."

Majority Standard Bible
But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

NET Bible
"It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs," he said.

New Heart English Bible
But he answered, "It is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

Webster's Bible Translation
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Weymouth New Testament
"It is not right," He said, "to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

World English Bible
But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and He answering said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread, and to cast to the little dogs.”

Berean Literal Bible
And answering He said, "It is not right to take the children's bread and to cast it to the dogs."

Young's Literal Translation
and he answering said, 'It is not good to take the children's bread, and to cast to the little dogs.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he, having answered, said, It is not good to take the children's bread, and cast it to the little dogs.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who answering, said: It is not good to take the bread of the children, and to cast it to the dogs.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And responding, he said, “It is not good to take the bread of the children and cast it to the dogs.”

New American Bible
He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”

New Revised Standard Version
He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Jesus said to her, It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He said to her, “It is not good to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
He answered and said: It is not good to take the children's bread, and throw it to the little dogs.

Godbey New Testament
He responding said, It is not good to take the children's bread and cast it to the little dogs.

Haweis New Testament
But he answering said, It is not proper to take the children?s bread and throw it to the dogs.

Mace New Testament
but he answered, it is not just to take the childrens bread, and throw it to puppies.

Weymouth New Testament
"It is not right," He said, "to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

Worrell New Testament
And He, answering, said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and cast it to the little dogs."

Worsley New Testament
But he answered, It is not fit to take the children's bread and throw it to dogs: and she said, True, Lord;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Faith of the Canaanite Woman
25The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27“Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”…

Cross References
Mark 7:27
“First let the children have their fill,” He said. “For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

Matthew 7:6
Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

John 1:11
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

Romans 15:8
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

Galatians 2:15-16
We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” / know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Ephesians 2:11-13
Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— / remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. / But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

John 4:22
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Romans 9:4-5
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. / Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.

Isaiah 49:6
He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 56:6-7
And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant— / I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

Exodus 19:5-6
Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. / And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”


Treasury of Scripture

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

It is not.

Matthew 7:6
Give 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.

Mark 7:27,28
But 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…

Acts 22:21,22
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles…

dogs.

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Matthew 15
1. Jesus reproves the Scribes and Pharisees
7. for transgressing God's commandments through their own traditions;
10. teaches how that which goes into the mouth does not defile a man.
21. He heals the daughter of the woman of Canaan,
29. and other great multitudes;
32. and with seven loaves and a few small fish feeds four thousand men














But Jesus replied
This phrase introduces a response from Jesus, indicating a moment of teaching or clarification. The Greek word for "replied" is "ἀποκριθεὶς" (apokritheis), which implies a thoughtful answer. In the context of the Gospels, Jesus often uses replies to challenge prevailing assumptions or to reveal deeper truths. Here, His reply sets the stage for a lesson on faith and the scope of His mission.

It is not right
The phrase "not right" translates from the Greek "οὐκ ἔστιν καλόν" (ouk estin kalon), meaning it is not proper or fitting. This reflects a moral or ethical standard. Jesus is addressing the appropriateness of His actions within the context of His mission to Israel. This phrase challenges the listener to consider the divine order and purpose in Jesus' ministry.

to take the children’s bread
"Children’s bread" symbolizes the blessings and teachings intended for the children of Israel. The Greek word for "children" is "τέκνων" (teknon), which denotes offspring or descendants, emphasizing the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Bread, a staple of life, represents the essential spiritual nourishment provided by Jesus' teachings and miracles.

and toss it to the dogs
The term "dogs" in Greek is "κυναρίοις" (kynariois), which refers to small dogs or puppies. In the cultural context of the time, dogs were often seen as unclean animals. This metaphor highlights the perceived distinction between Jews and Gentiles. However, Jesus uses this imagery not to demean but to provoke thought about the inclusivity of God's grace. The phrase challenges the audience to reflect on the boundaries of God's mercy and the faith required to transcend them.

(26) To cast it to dogs.--The word used was diminutive in its form, and as such pointed not to the wild, unclean beasts that haunt the streets of an Eastern city (Psalm 59:6), but to the tamer animals that were bred in the house, and kept as pets. The history of Tobias and his dog, in the Apocrypha, furnishes the one example in Biblical literature of this friendly relation between the dog and his master (Tobit 5:16).

The answer has, even taking this into account, a somewhat harsh sound, but it did not go beyond the language with which the woman must have been familiar, and it was probably but a common proverb, like our "Charity begins at home," indicating the line of demarcation which gave a priority to the claims of the family of Israel to those of strangers. We may well believe that there was no intentional scorn in it, though it emphasized an actual distinction.

Verse 26. - But he answered and said. At length Jesus spoke directly to her; but his words were rough in sound, still enforcing the previous repulse. It is not meet; οὐκ ἔστι καλόν: non est bonum (Vulgate). Another reading of less authority is oboe ἔξεστιν, "it is not lawful." The question is rather of fairness and expediency than of lawfulness. To take the children's bread. "The children" are the chosen people, "the children of the kingdom" (Matthew 8:12), who held this high position by election, however individuals might forfeit it by an unworthy use of privileges. "Bread" is meant to signify the graces and favours bestowed by God in Christ. To cast it. An humiliating term; not to give it, as you would to your children, but to throw it away as valueless, fit only for animals. Dogs (κυναρίοις). A contemptuous diminutive, rendered by Wickliffe, "whelpies," or, as we might say, "curs." This was the term applied by the Jews to the Gentiles, even as Turks nowadays talk of "dogs of Christians," and as in later times, by a curious inversion, the Jews themselves were generally saluted with the opprobrious name of"dogs." Some have seen a term of endearment in the diminutive "little dogs," as though Christ desired to soften the harshness of the expression by referring, not to the prowling, unowned animals that act as scavengers in Oriental towns, but to the petted inmates of the master's house. But Scripture gives no warrant for thinking that the Hebrews ever kept dogs as friends and companions, in our modern fashion; and our Lord adopts the language of his countrymen, to put the woman in her right position, as one with whom Jews could have no fellowship. To take the blessings from the Church of Israel in order to give them to aliens was to throw them away on unworthy recipients.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[Jesus] replied,
ἀποκριθεὶς (apokritheis)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

“It is
ἔστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

not
Οὐκ (Ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

right
καλὸν (kalon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.

to take
λαβεῖν (labein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

children’s
τέκνων (teknōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 5043: A child, descendent, inhabitant. From the base of timoria; a child.

bread
ἄρτον (arton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

toss [it]
βαλεῖν (balein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 906: (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.

to the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

dogs.”
κυναρίοις (kynariois)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2952: A little dog, a house dog. Neuter of a presumed derivative of kuon; a puppy.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 15:26 But he answered It is not appropriate (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 15:25
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