Matthew 15:22
IntermediateMatthew 15:22 · World English Bible (WEB)
“Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!””
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Overview
A Gentile woman’s desperate appeal to Jesus as the merciful Son of David
This verse introduces a striking scene: a Canaanite woman, though outside Israel’s covenant boundaries, comes to Jesus with faith-filled urgency for her demon-oppressed daughter. Her cry recognizes both His mercy and His messianic identity.
What Makes This Verse Confusing?
Matthew calls her “Canaanite,” while Mark 7:26 identifies her as “a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth.” Matthew’s wording reaches back into Israel’s older biblical memory: the Canaanites were among the peoples of the land whom Israel was commanded to dispossess. By using “Canaanite,” Matthew highlights the spiritual distance Jesus crosses in this encounter.
The text gives an older biblical designation rather than the more current regional/ethnic label supplied in Mark 7:26, and it does not explain why that term is chosen.
This makes her cry more astonishing. She is not presented merely as a foreigner, but as one associated with Israel’s ancient enemies — yet she comes to Israel’s Messiah for mercy, and Jesus does not ultimately turn her away.
Original Language
Canaanite — Χαναναῖος , -α, -ον Canaanite : γυνή, Mat.15:22. † (AS)
Matthew’s term “Canaanite” is unusually weighty because it evokes the older biblical identity of Israel’s enemies rather than simply naming her by local geography. The word sharpens the wonder of her approach to Jesus.
to cry — κράζω [in LXX for זָעַק, צָעַק, קָרָא, etc. ;] in cl. chiefly poët., __1. prop. onomatop., of the raven, to croak, hence generally, of inartic. cries, to scream, cry out (Æsch., al.): Mrk.5:5 9:26 15:39 (Rec., R, mg.), Luk.9:39 , al.; of crying for vengeance (cf. Gen.4:10 ), Jas.5:4 . __2. to cry, call out with a loud voice: with accusative of thing(s), Act.19:32; before orat. dir., Mrk.10:48 , Lu…
The verb translated “cried” carries the sense of a loud, urgent cry. Her appeal is not polite curiosity but desperate, persistent pleading for mercy.
to have mercy — ἐλεέω (in Rom.9:16 , Ju 22 , -άω, which see), -ῶ (ἔλεος), [in LXX (Hex, Pss, Pr) chiefly for חָנַן, also frequently in Proph. for רָחַם, etc. ;] to have pity or mercy on, to show mercy : absol., Rom.9:16 12:8 ; with accusative, Mat.9:27 15:22 17:15 18:33 20:30-31 , Mrk.5:19 10:47-48 , Luk.16:24 17:13 18:38-39 Rom.9:15, 18 11:32 , Php.2:27 , Ju 22 . Pass., to have pity or mercy shown one (EV, obtai…
Her first request is not for power, explanation, or fairness, but mercy. She casts herself and her daughter upon the compassion of Christ.
Lexicon & word tagging: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0)
Related Passages
Matthew 9:27
parallelTwo blind men also cry out to Jesus, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
Mark 7:25-26
parallelMark records the same encounter and identifies the woman as “a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth.”
Matthew 17:15
parallelA father later cries, “Lord, have mercy on my son,” because his child is grievously afflicted.
Psalms 45:12
BackgroundLuke 18:38-39
parallelThe blind man near Jericho cries out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me,” even when others try to silence him.
Psalms 4:1
BackgroundEzekiel 3:6
BackgroundLuke 18:13
BackgroundCross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · openbible.info (CC-BY)
Key Takeaway
A woman identified with Israel’s ancient outsiders comes to Israel’s Messiah and asks for mercy — and that is exactly the door faith knows to knock on.
The Canaanite woman does not come with a claim of worthiness; she comes with a cry for mercy to the Son of David.“
Analysis generated on August 12, 2026 · version 2.0
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