15:22a
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated focuses attention on what follows. It indicates that what follows is important, unexpected, or amazing. Here a person who is not a Jew, and who is a woman, is an example to the disciples of someone with great faith.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
Unexpectedly
-or-
Suddenly (Contemporary English Version)
Many English versions do not translate this phrase. In some languages, it will not be natural to translate this phrase either.
a Canaanite woman: The word Canaanite refers to a person whose ancestors lived in the area that the Old Testament called Canaan. Canaan was the land that God promised to give to Abraham’s descendants. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, God told them to destroy all the people of Canaan because of their great sin. A few Canaanites survived. They and the Jews were enemies.
In this passage, instead of acting like an enemy, the Canaanite woman called to Jesus using a Jewish title for the Christ. That was very different from the religious leaders of the Jews. Those leaders should have accepted Jesus as the Christ, but they did not (15:1–20). In some languages, it may be necessary to put some of this information in a footnote.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
A Gentile woman (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a woman who was not a Jew
from that region: This phrase means that the Canaanite woman was from the area of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus had crossed the border between Israel and Phoenicia and was likely still close to the border. The woman was from that local area.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
from there
-or-
from that area (New Century Version)
-or-
who lived there
15:22b
came to Him: This phrase probably indicates that the woman came to Him from out of her house or her village, wanting to talk with Jesus. In some languages, it is more natural to simply say “came.” For example:
A Canaanite woman from that area came to Jesus (New Century Version)
crying out: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crying out means “shouting” or “calling out with a loud voice” It does not mean “weeping.” The Greek tense of this verb indicates that the woman probably shouted the following words several times.
The woman was urgently seeking Jesus’ attention. The words she used show that she was respectful to him. She was not trying to be rude.
Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
pleading (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
started shouting (New Revised Standard Version)
15:22c
Before you translate 15:22c, think about the most natural order in your language for the parts of this verse. In the Greek, the phrase “Lord, Son of David” comes after the phrase “have mercy on me.” The Berean Standard Bible puts “Lord, Son of David” first because it is more natural in English. In some languages, it will be more natural to follow the Greek order. For example:
Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David (English Standard Version)
Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as Lord means “owner,” “master,” or “ruler.” It refers to someone who has authority over something. The woman probably used this word to politely speak to Jesus. She also showed that she saw him as someone of higher status and greater authority than she had.
Here are some other ways to translate Lord:
Sir
-or-
Master
The Berean Standard Bible translates this same Greek term as “Sir” in 13:27b.
Son of David: This is a title that the Jews used for the Christ (the Messiah). They used that title because God promised that the Christ would be a descendant of David. The woman probably learned some things about the Christ from her Jewish neighbors. She used this title to show her respect for Jesus.
Here are some other ways to translate this title:
the descendant of ⌊King⌋ David
-or-
⌊you⌋ grandson of David
See how you translated this same term in 9:27b.
have mercy on me: The woman used these words to politely and indirectly ask Jesus to help her. She did not just want Jesus to pity her. She wanted him to help her by healing her daughter.
Here are some other ways to translate these words:
have pity/mercy on me
-or-
⌊please⌋ pity me ⌊and help me⌋
15:22d
My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon: These words indicate that a demon strongly controlled the daughter and was causing her to suffer.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
My daughter has a demon, and she is suffering very much. (New Century Version)
-or-
⌊Please help⌋ my daughter. A demon is making her suffer greatly.
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