Mark 7:27 Let the children first be filled:

Spoken to: 

an individual

A Greek woman asks Jesus to cure her daughter.

KJV: 

Mark 7:27 Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

NIV : 

Mark 7:27 First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Permit first to be fed those children. No, because it isn't good to get the loaf of those children and to the puppies toss [it].

MY TAKE: 

The first will be last and the last first.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

While this statement is cited as evidence of Jesus's prejudice, in Greek the second part seems like a humorous response to something someone else has said. One clear clue is that the Greek word translated as "dogs" is diminutive, more like "puppies." The word for "puppies" only appears here in Jesus's words. Jesus often used usual words to repeat what was first said to him. The Bible doesn't quote the woman but does say that she threw herself at Jesus's feet, indicating that she was humbling herself.

Notice that Jesus doesn't deny the woman. He only says that he has come first to the Judeans.

This is a longer version of Matthew 15:26, which lacks the introductory phrase about letting children eat first. 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

3
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "meet" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "bread" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "dogs" is the diminutive form so "puppies."
  • WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "lo" should be something more like "look."
  • WF --Wrong Form -  The "eat" is not an active verb but a passive on, "be filled."
  • IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "all they want," doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "meet" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "bread" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WF --Wrong Form -  The "toss" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to toss."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "dogs" is the diminutive form so "puppies."

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Let -- The word translated as "let" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away."  It can also means "remit" a debt or "excuse" a fault. It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. See this article for more.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

children -- The word translated as "children" means "child" but in the most general sense of "offspring." Christ does not use it to refer specifically to children under seven, which is another term. See this article more about these words for "child."

first -- The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. Here, it is technically an adjective but it plays the role of the English adverb "initially."

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

filled:  -  "Filled" is the passive infinitive of the verb that means "feed", "fatten" and "to eat their fill." So "to be fed" or "to be fattened."

for --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause". 

it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." 

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.

meet -- (CW) The word translated as "meet" means "good", "beautiful", "noble," or "of good quality."  See this article.  The word translated as "well" means, as an adverb, "well", "rightly",  "happily",  "thoroughly", "altogether", and "deservedly".  

to -- This comes from the infinitive form of the following verb.

take -- The word translated as "take" primarily means "take." However, it means "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English. Among these are the ideas of "understanding" and "possessing." It is an infinitive, "to get."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

children's -- The word translated as "children" means "child" but in the most general sense of "offspring." Christ does not use it to refer specifically to children under seven, which is another term. See this article more about these words for "child." This word comes after the Greek word translated as "bread" so "of the children."

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

bread, -- The word translated as "bread" means "small loaf or cake of bread". It is more like a slice of bread today.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

to -- This comes from the infinitive form of the following verb.

cast -- The word translated as "cast" has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." Jesus often uses this word in the same way we use "dump" in English. In dice, it means "to throw" the dice, but with the sense of being lucky.

it -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

unto -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

dogs.-- (CW) The word translated as "dogs" is the diminutive of the word that means "dog," so "puppies" or "doggies," in English.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

First -- The word translated as "first" takes a lot of different types of "first" meanings from its context. Here, it is technically an adjective but it plays the role of the English adverb "initially."

let -- The word translated as "let" primarily means "to let go" or "to send away."  It can also mean "remit" a debt or "excuse" a fault. It has the sense of leaving something alone and letting it drop. See this article for more.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

children -- The word translated as "children" means "child" but in the most general sense of "offspring." Christ does not use it to refer specifically to children under seven, which is another term. See this article more about these words for "child."

eat :  -  (WW, WF) "Eat" is the passive infinitive of the verb that means "feed", "fatten" and "to eat their fill." So "to be fed" or "to be fattened."

all they want, -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "all they want," in the Greek source.

for --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause". 

it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are." 

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.

right -- The word translated as "right " means "good", "beautiful", "noble," or "of good quality."  See this article.  The word translated as "well" means, as an adverb, "well", "rightly",  "happily",  "thoroughly", "altogether", and "deservedly".  

to -- This comes from the infinitive form of the following verb.

take -- The word translated as "take" primarily means "take." However, it means "receive" in the same sense that we use "get" to mean "receive" and has many different uses as we use "get" in English. Among these are the ideas of "understanding" and "possessing." It is an infinitive, "to get."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

children's -- The word translated as "children" means "child" but in the most general sense of "offspring." Christ does not use it to refer specifically to children under seven, which is another term. See this article more about these words for "child." This word comes after the Greek word translated as "bread" so "of the children."

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.

bread, -- The word translated as "bread" means "small loaf or cake of bread". It is more like a slice of bread today.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

toss -- (WF) The word translated as "toss" has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." Jesus often uses this word in the same way we use "dump" in English. In dice, it means "to throw" the dice, but with the sense of being lucky.

it -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.

to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

dogs.-- (CW) The word translated as "dogs" is the diminutive of the word that means "dog," so "puppies" or "doggies," in English. CW - Confusing Word -- The "dogs" is the diminutive form so "puppies."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Ἄφες [73 verses] (verb 2nd sg aor imperat act ) "Let" is aphiemi, which means "to let fall," "to send away," "give up," "hand over," "to let loose," "to get rid of," "to leave alone," "to pass by," "to permit," and "to send forth from oneself." The dative is the person it is left to. The accusative object is what is left, given away, etc. It can also mean to "remit" a debt or "excuse" a fault. With an accusative person as an object, it means "to permit one." A genitive object is a thing "let go."

πρῶτον [41 verses]( adj sg neut nom/acc) "First" is protos. In place, this means "before", "in front," and, as a noun, "the foremost." Of time, it means "former", "earlier," and, as a noun, "the initial." In order, it means "the first." In math, it means the prime numbers. Of rank or degree, it means "superior" or, as a noun, "the highest" or "the best."

χορτασθῆναι [6 verses] ( verb aor inf pass ) "Be filled" is from chortazo, which means "feed", "fatten" and "to eat their fill."

τὰ  [821 verses](article pl neut nom ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

τέκνα, [25 verses](noun pl neut nom ) "Children" is teknon, which means "that which is born", "child," and "the young."

οὐ [269 verses] (partic) "Not" is ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

γάρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for", "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

ἐστιν [614 verses] (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen",  and "is possible." (The future form is esomai. The 3rd person present indicative is "esti.")

καλὸν [48 verses] (adj sg neut nom ) "Meet" is kalos, which means "beautiful", "good", "of fine quality", "noble," and "honorable." It is most often translated as "good" juxtaposed with "evil" in the New Testament, but the two ideas are closer to "wonderful" and "worthless", "noble" and "base."

λαβεῖν [54 verse] ( verb aor inf act ) "To take" is lambano means to "take", "take hold of", "grasp", "seize", "catch", "overtake", "find out", "detect", "take as", "take [food or drugs]", "understand", "take in hand", "undertake", "take in", "hold", "get", "receive [things]", "receive hospitably", "receive in marriage", "receive as produce", "profit", "admit", "initiate", "take hold of", "lay hold on", "seize and keep hold of", "obtain possession of", "lay hands upon", "find fault with", "censure," "to apprehend with the senses", "to take hold of," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean "seized with emotion."

τὸν [821 verses] (article sg masc acc ) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

ἄρτον [32 verses] ( noun sg masc acc ) "Bread" is artos, which means specifically a "cake of whole wheat bread," and generally "loaf," and "bread."

τῶν (article pl neut gen ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

τέκνων [821 verses] ( noun pl neut gen) "Children" is teknon, which means "that which is born", "child," and "the young."

καὶ ([1089 verses]conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."

τοῖς [821 verses]( article pl neut dat ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

κυναρίοις [2 verses]( noun pl neut dat diminutive ) "Dogs" is from kynarion, which means "little dog," and "puppy."

βαλεῖν [54 verses](verb aor inf act ) "To cast" is ballo, which means "to throw", "to let fall," "to cast," "to put", "to pour", "to place money on deposit", "push forward or in front [of animals]", "to shed", "to place", "to pay,"to throw [of dice,]" "to be lucky", "to fall", "to lay as foundation", "to begin to form", "to dash oneself with water," and "to bathe."

Related Verses: 

Possible Symbolic Meaning: 

Jesus uses the nourishment of bread as a symbol for the satisfaction of knowledge. This analogy starts at the beginning of Matthew when Jesus says that we do not live by bread alone but by the knowledge that comes from God. The analogy still confused the apostles, for example in Matthew 16:11, when Jesus described the teaching of the Pharisees as their bread.

While both dogs and men eat bread, the knowledge that nourishes a child is not the same as the knowledge that nourishes a dog. Jesus is saying that the knowledge that he offers comes from context and can only satisfy us in that context. Jesus is addressing these words to us now, but in history, he addressed them to a Syrian woman who wanted Christ to cast a devil out of her daughter, but Jesus tells her that the power of the knowledge is meant for the children of Israel, that it must be satisfy their tradition before it can be translated and passed on. As Christ says elsewhere, little children can understand what wise men can confuse. This remain true.

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

I suspect, without real proof, that foreigners insulted the Judeans by calling them "children," which is a name they gave themselves as the children of Israel. The Judeans and all the people in the region regularly called foriengers "dogs" and "pigs." In Matthew 7:6, Jesus uses both words.

Front Page Date: 

May 9 2023