7:28a
Yes, Lord: There is a textual issue here:
(1) Some Greek manuscripts have “Yes” before “Lord.” For example, the Revised Standard Version says:
Yes, Lord
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation, NET Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version)
(2) Other Greek manuscripts have only “Lord” or “sir.” For example, the Good News Bible says:
Sir
(Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow option (1).
Yes: The word Yes indicates that the woman understood what Jesus meant. She agreed with Jesus.
Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “master,” or “one who has authority over others.” People used this word as a polite title when they spoke to an elder or someone in authority. However, the Jews also used this same title to refer to God. The Gentile woman may have been using it in a similar way to address Jesus as a person who had authority from God. Use a term in your language that could be used in a similar way.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Master
-or-
Chief
-or-
Owner
-or-
Sovereign
In some languages it may be necessary to add a word like “my” before such an address. For example:
my Chief/Sovereign
See Lord, Context 3, in the Glossary.
she replied: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as she replied is literally “she answered and said to him” (as in the New American Standard Bible). In Greek, this phrase comes before “Yes, Lord.” You should place this phrase where it is most natural in your language.
7:28b
even the dogs: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as even is used to emphasize that those who were not children were allowed to eat some of the children’s food.
under the table: In some languages, it may not be natural to say explicitly that the dogs are under the table. This information may be understood without being stated. If that is the case in your language, you may leave this phrase implied.
children’s crumbs: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as children’s crumbs literally indicates the small pieces of food that fall down while children are eating.
Here are some other ways to translate children’s crumbs:
the children’s leftovers (Good News Bible)
-or-
some of the children’s scraps (God’s Word)
-or-
crumbs that children drop from the table (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
crumbs from the children’s plates (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
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