Why did Jesus call the Canaanite woman a dog? | GotQuestions.org

Today's question is, why did Jesus call the Canaanite woman a dog?

In this video I'll answer that question from a biblical perspective.

Then afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.

In Matthew 15, verses 21–28, Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman who begs Him

to cure her daughter.

Jesus initially refuses her request by saying it is not right to take the children's bread and

toss it to the dogs.

Matthew 15, verse 26.

Taken out of context and especially in English, it's easy to mistake this for an insult.

In the flow of the story, however, it's clear Jesus is creating a metaphor meant to explain the

priorities of His ministry.

He is also teaching an important lesson to His disciples.

Jews in Jesus' day sometimes referred to Gentiles as dogs.

In Greek, this word is kouon, meaning wild purr.

Non -Jews were considered so unspiritual that even being in their presence could make a person

ceremonially unclean.

Much of Jesus' ministry, however, involved turning expectations and prejudices on their heads.

According to Matthew's narrative, Jesus left Israel and went to Tyre and Sidon, which was Gentile

territory.

When the Canaanite woman approached and repeatedly asked for healing, the disciples were annoyed and

asked Jesus to send her away.

At this point, Jesus explained His current ministry in a way that both the woman and the watching

disciples could understand.

At that time, His duty was to the people of Israel, not to the Gentiles.

Recklessly taking His attention from Israel in violation of His mission would be like a father

taking food from his children in order to throw it to their pets.

The exact word Jesus used here in Greek was kounarion, meaning small dog or pet dog.

This is a completely different word from the term kouon, used to refer to unspiritual people or

to an unclean animal.

Jesus frequently tested people to prove their intentions, often through response questions or

challenges.

His response to the Canaanite woman is similar.

In testing her, Jesus declined her request and explained that she had no legitimate

expectation of His help.

The woman, however, lived out the principle that Jesus Himself taught in the parable of the persistent widow.

Her response proved that she understood fully what Jesus was saying, yet had enough conviction to

ask anyway.

Jesus acknowledged her faith, calling it great, and granted her request.

So, according to both the context and language involved, Jesus wasn't referring to the Canaanite woman as a

dog, either directly or indirectly.

He wasn't using an epithet or racial slur, but making a point about the priorities He'd been given

by God.

He was also testing the faith of the woman and teaching an important lesson to His disciples.

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