Translation

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Does anyone know what the comprehensive translation of the word dogs found in Matt. 15:27 would be compared to the term dog in Luke 16:21? I am really wanting to know about this because someone told me their pastor said that Jesus called the woman in Matt. 15:27 a b----- I could hardly believe this and am shocked. Would a Catholic priest get in trouble for saying such a thing? Wouldn't this be implying that Jesus sinned??? Br. Rich please respond and anyone with a real accurate translation.

-- Pamela Brink (Rosylace@aol.com), August 27, 1999

Answers

Helen - As to an actual translation I leave that to the upper class thinkers on the site. The priest mentioned is showing his unfortunate low opinion of women in general.

I understand it to mean just that the woman asking for the grumbs in that society was considered as or less then a dog. This was due to a form a caste system then which exists to-day in different forms. Hope that helps somehow. +Peace+

-- jean bouchardRC (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), August 28, 1999.


Note of clarification: This was not a priest saying this. It was a pastor of a Lutheran church. I was wondering if a Priest would have said something like this would there be reprecussions? My translation says it means puppy (a family pet), not the status of a child but loved and included as a family puppy. This is directly opposed to the hatefulness associated with calling a woman this name. It is clear that the translation does not mean a female dog, simply puppy. It was not meant to imply anything about gender, but a class of people, in the household but not the children, until of course the woman in the story became an adopted child through faith. Jesus was not hateful . He was not teaching hatefulness.

-- Pamela (Rosylace@aol.com), August 28, 1999.

Pamela, it sounds like that pastor is exhibiting some pretty sloppy exegesis to say the least. To answer your question, both the word in Matt 15:27 (kunarion), which means "puppy", and in Luke 16:21 (kuon), which means "dog", are essentially the same. Kunarion is actually a derivative of kuon.

As to equating the term to our modern day slang for an "unpleasant, malicious woman" (according to Webster's), well let's just say that misses the makr.

By associating the woman with a dog eating the crumbs from the table, Jesus was clearly testing the woman's resolve and faith. But I do not believe he was directly insulting her. Let me explain. By comparing her to a "dog", he was clearly presenting her with an insult as in "since you are not a child of Israel, you are in comparison like a dog, lowly and of little consequence". But I do not believe Jesus was insulting her directly as much as describing her status as typified by the relations between Israelites and Canaanites. Israelites were God's chosen and they made that well known to all outsiders. They probably were very well known for being "snobbish" in the way they looked down on others. But Jesus knew all along that he came to save ALL races and mankind, not just Israel. He was just reminding her that there was a wall of prejudice that separated Israel from Canaan and was testing her faith to see if she would look past that wall to see the Truth in Jesus. That is why when the woman responded in a way that said, I don't care if I'm considered the lowliest creature on the planet, I want salvation and freedom for my daughter, Jesus responded "On woman, great is your faith! Let it be as you desire." He was greatly pleased that she passed the test!!

Often, we are presented obstacles as we appproach the Lord. These are but tests for us. The question is, will we press in and seek His face despite what seems to be insurmountable obstacles? Will we speak to the mountain and watch it move by faith? Nothing can separate us from the love of God, we need to place our faith in that and press in. The sad part of what that pastor was teaching is that not only did he miss the point of the scripture, he also missed a fantastic lesson.

Hope that helps.

-- David Bowerman (dbowerman@blazenet.net), August 28, 1999.


To scripture scholars out there:

does all this have anything to do with the applying the word "goy" or "goyim" by many (not all) jews to gentiles?

enrique

-- enrique ortiz (eaortiz2@yahoo.com), August 29, 1999.


Enrique - As I understand what you have asked my not being a scholar but havng many many Jewish friends it refers to a non member. An M. O. T. is a member of the tribe. The deepest insult from a Jewish person to give a non member is gunzil meanng a total ass. +Peace+

-- jean bouchardRC (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), August 29, 1999.


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