Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Mark 7:27 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 27. 27But 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.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse states Israel-first priority through a harsh children-and-dogs metaphor that the woman will answer from within.
A Syrophoenician mother answers inside the metaphor
This verse is one part of that explanation in Mark 7:24-30. The complete section carries the connected meaning and how it should shape life.
Read It With
- Mark 7:24-30
Read Mark 7:27 with 7:24-30. This verse states Israel-first priority through a harsh children-and-dogs metaphor that the woman will answer from within. The complete unit's controlling movement is: A Gentile woman asks Jesus to release her daughter; after a harsh children-and-dogs saying, she answers within the metaphor and Jesus grants the request because of her word.
Follow the Context
- A Gentile woman asks Jesus to release her daughter
- after a harsh children-and-dogs saying, she answers within the metaphor and Jesus grants the request because of her word.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take…”
In plain language: states Israel-first priority through a harsh children-and-dogs metaphor that the woman will answer from within
A Gentile woman asks Jesus to release her daughter; after a harsh children-and-dogs saying, she answers within the metaphor and Jesus grants the request because of her word. Within that movement, this wording states Israel-first priority through a harsh children-and-dogs metaphor that the woman will answer from within.
Why it matters: This wording carries a material narrative, lexical, textual, historical, theological, ethical, or misuse boundary.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
Jesus' initial refusal does not license leaders to test vulnerable people through cruelty. Read Mark 7:27 with Mark 7:24-30. In context, the verse states Israel-first priority through a harsh children-and-dogs metaphor that the woman will answer from within.
What Remains True
A Gentile mother's courageous reply presses an Israel-first mission toward mercy for her daughter. At Mark 7:27, states Israel-first priority through a harsh children-and-dogs metaphor that the woman will answer from within.
Teach It Back
Explain Mark 7:27's specific contribution to Mark 7:24-30: states Israel-first priority through a harsh children-and-dogs metaphor that the woman will answer from within. Include the surrounding movement, one uncertainty or ethical boundary, and what the verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
Read the complete section for the connected explanation and how it should shape life. This verse is a doorway into that passage, not a saying that stands alone.
Read Mark 7:24-30 — A Syrophoenician Mother Presses the Bread MetaphorSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
The preferred reading follows Mark's immediate narrative and whole-book movement while keeping the material alternative visible: The saying reflects an Israel-first mission and uses demeaning household-dog language. Interpreters differ on test, insult, parable, and mission-boundary readings; the woman's agency and successful reply must remain visible.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact KJV wording, paragraph flags, supplied-word markup, and coverage.
Exact location: Mark 7:24-30, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, sentence relations, and material variants checked independently of the KJV.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT official repository, data/sblgnt/text/Mark.txt, 7:24-30
Open the Mark Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Mark with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, older-English clarification, variants, background, and alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible Mark PDF, printed pp. 1868–1901, 7:24-30 and attached translator/textual notes
Open the official NET Mark PDF ↗