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Mat 15:27. Ναὶ, yea) The woman seizes upon the appellation κυνάρια, for she says immediately, καὶ γὰρ, which must be rendered, for even (etenim). The particle ναὶ partly assents, partly as it were places on our Lord’s tongue the assent to her prayers, i.e. prays. The word is thus used in Phm 1:20, and Jdt 9:12.[699]-ἘΣΘῚΕΙ, eat) since the children often waste their bread.-ἀπὸ τῶν ψιχίων, of the crumbs) She does not say the morsels, nor the bread.-τῶν πιπτόντων, which fall) in opposition to λαβεῖν καὶ βαλεῖν, to take and cast, in the last verse. She asks for it as a favour, essential to herself, injurious to no one.-ἀπὸ, from). She does not ask to be admitted to the table, but implies that she was not far distant from it. Her nation was contiguous to Israel.-τῶν κυρίων αὐτῶν, of their masters) This indicates the prerogative of the children, and vet a certain tie of connection (necessitudinem) with them on the part of the little dogs. The language of the Canaanitess corresponds with the curse addressed to Canaan, Gen 9:26 : “A servant of servants shall he be,” etc.
[699] Such modes of pleading she could not have learned from books by anticipation. The Spirit of faith supplies the best forms of prayer.-V. g.