"a little or worthless dog, Mt. 15:26, 27; Mk. 7:27, 28*"
Definition and meaning
a little or worthless dog, Mt. 15:26, 27; Mk. 7:27, 28*
In the original Greek the word is written: κυνάριον
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of kynarion (G2952) across the King James Bible.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
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Common questions
Strong's G2952 (kynarion) is a Greek word that means: a little or worthless dog, Mt. 15:26, 27; Mk. 7:27, 28* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word kynarion (G2952) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2952 is kynarion, a Greek word defined as: a little or worthless dog, Mt. 15:26, 27; Mk. 7:27, 28*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kynarion is a Greek word found in the New Testament.