It is not fair (so also New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt) is translated “It is not right” by New English Bible, An American Translation, and New American Bible (Good News Translation “It isn’t right”). Barclay has “It is not proper.” The Greek adjective which appears as “fair,” “right,” and “proper” in these translations literally means “good,” and it may be used in a wide variety of contexts. Some Greek manuscripts have a wording which means “lawful” or “permitted,” but TC-GNT believes that this was an attempt by a later scribe to strengthen the reply of Jesus to the woman. Translations evidently do not reflect this alternative possibility. Since the context suggests the meaning “appropriate,” one may even translate “People do not….”

The children’s bread may be rendered “the food for the children” or “the food the children eat.” Bread (Good News Translation “food”) was the basic element in the Jewish meal and can refer to the meal itself or to food in general.

The intention of throw is not to frighten the dogs away but to give them something to eat. “Throw it (the food) to the dogs for them to eat” will eliminate this misunderstanding in those cases where it exists.

Commentators generally note the sayings of certain Jewish teachers who referred to Gentiles as dogs, but this does not support the argument that all Jews felt this way toward them. And there is no evidence from other New Testament sources that Jesus himself ever spoke of Gentiles in this manner. In fact, it is most probable that the saying is not intended to make a derogatory remark about Gentiles, but rather to differentiate order of priority: children (symbolizing the Jews) are fed before the household pets (dogs symbolizing the Gentiles). In a Palestinian household, which had children and household dogs, the children would be fed first, after which the dogs would be given the scraps from the table. The woman must have understood Jesus’ remark in this way, as her response in verse 27 intimates. Consequently Jerusalem Bible translates “house-dogs,” with a footnote indicating the root meaning of the word is “little or pet dogs.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, apparently accepting the same exegesis, but without a footnote, has “little dogs.” There are languages which make a distinction between wild and domestic dogs, and in such cases “pet dogs” is a good rendering. In other cultures, however, “dogs” will suffice.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .