Exorcism of the Syrophoenician woman's daughter

The Woman of Canaan by Michael Angelo Immenraet, 17th century

The Exorcism of the Syrophoenician woman's daughter, as described in the Gospel of Mark (7:24-30), or the Canaanite woman's daughter as described in the Gospel of Matthew (15:21-28), is one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels.^[1] According to these particular Gospels, in this miracle Jesus exorcised the daughter of the Canaanite or Phoenician woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon.

The Story

The story goes as follows:

The Canaanite woman came to Jesus, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly."

Jesus exorcising the Canaanite Woman's daughter from Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, 15th century.

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."

"Yes it is, Lord," she said. "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."

Then Jesus said to her:

"Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted."

And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

This episode is according to Graham H. Twelftree an example of how Jesus emphasizes the value of faith, as also shown in the Healing the Centurion's servant episode.^[1]

Further reading

• Burkill, T. A. "The Historical Development of the Story of the Syrophoenician Woman (Mark vii: 24-31).", Novum Testamentum 9 (1967): 161-177.
• Downing, F. Gerald. "The Woman from Syrophoenicia, and her Doggedness: Mark 7:24-31 (Matthew 15:21-28)." Women in the Biblical Tradition. Ed. George J. Brooke. Lewiston: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1992. 129-149.
• Schäfler, Markus, "The Syrophoenician Woman (Mk 7:24-31)"
• Alt, C., The Dynamic of Humility and Wisdom: The Syrophoenician Woman and Jesus in Mark 7:24-31a, Lumen et Vita, Vol. 2, 2012
• Alonso, P. 2011. The woman who changed Jesus. Crossing Boundaries in Mk 7,24-30. Biblical tools and studies, 11. Peeters Publishers.

See also

• Life of Jesus in the New Testament
• Ministry of Jesus
• Miracles of Jesus
• Parables of Jesus

References

Miracles of Jesus Cures Bleeding woman Blind man of Bethsaida Blind near Jericho Blind men in Galilee Centurion's servant Cleansing a leper Cleansing ten lepers Deaf mute of Decapolis Dropsy Gennesaret healings Hunched woman Man blind from birth Mother of Peter's wife Paralytic at Bethesda Paralytic at Capernaum Royal official's son Servant's ear Withered hand Exorcisms Blind mute Boy Syrophoenician's daughter Capernaum synagogue Gerasene demoniac (Legion) Mute man At sunset Raising the dead Son of the widow of Nain Daughter of Jairus Lazarus Control of nature Catch of fish Coin in the fish's mouth Feeding the multitude Fig tree cursed Marriage at Cana Calming the storm Transfiguration Walking on water Christianity Portal