Matthew 15:23
IntermediateMatthew 15:23 · World English Bible (WEB)
“But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.””
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Overview
Jesus’ silence before a desperate Gentile woman’s plea, and the disciples’ desire to be rid of her cries.
This verse sits in the tension between apparent divine silence and persistent faith. Jesus’ silence is not indifference; the unfolding passage shows He is drawing out and revealing the woman’s remarkable faith.
What Makes This Verse Confusing?
Jesus does not immediately respond to the woman’s cry for mercy. In the flow of the story, His silence prepares for the testing and public revealing of her faith, which He will later praise as “great” in Matthew 15:28.
The verse itself gives no explanation for Jesus’ silence. Without the following verses, it is not stated whether the silence is refusal, delay, testing, or purposeful instruction.
Understanding the silence as purposeful keeps the verse from being read as coldness in Christ. The Lord who seems silent is still fully aware, fully sovereign, and moving toward mercy.
Original Language
to release: release — ἀπο-λύω [in LXX for שׁוּב, etc., frequently in 1-4 Mac ;] __1. to set free, release : Luk.13:12 , Jhn.19:10 , al.; a debtor, Mat.18:27; metaphorically, of forgiveness, Luk.6:37. __2. to let go, dismiss (Field, Notes , 9 f.): Mat.15:23 , Luk.2:29 9:12 , Act.19:41 , al.; of divorce, τ. γυναῖκα: Mat.1:19 5:31-32 19:3, 8 19:10 Mrk.10:2, 4 10:11 , Luk.16:18 ; with ref. to Gk. and Rom. (net Jewish) cus…
The verb behind “Send her away” has a range that includes dismissing or releasing. That range explains why the disciples’ request is not as simple as it first sounds: they want the situation ended, but the text leaves open whether they are asking for her healing or merely her removal.
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 word for “cries” describes a loud, urgent cry. This is not casual speech; it underscores the woman’s desperation and persistence before the Lord.
Lexicon & word tagging: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0)
Related Passages
Matthew 14:15
parallelIn Matthew 14:15, the disciples also urge Jesus to send people away when a crowd becomes inconvenient and difficult to manage.
Psalms 28:1
backgroundThe psalmist cries to the LORD and fears God’s silence: “be not silent to me.”
Genesis 42:7
BackgroundMark 10:47-48
BackgroundLamentations 3:8
BackgroundDeuteronomy 8:2
backgroundGod tested Israel in the wilderness to reveal what was in their heart.
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · openbible.info (CC-BY)
Key Takeaway
Jesus’ silence in Matthew 15:23 is not neglect but a holy delay through which persistent faith is brought into the light.
What the disciples wanted dismissed, Jesus was preparing to honor.“
Analysis generated on August 9, 2026 · version 2.0
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