Matthew 15

1:11 away (a-14) In those days conquerors transported conquered nations to distant seats, and replaced them by others, that national feeling might not subsist, but dependence be complete. 'Carrying away' is feeble for this, but I know no other word.15:2 ancients? (d-12) Or 'the tradition of the elders.' 15:4 saying, (a-4) Ex. 20.12. and, (b-9) Ex. 21.17. ill (c-13) Or 'abuses,' 'curses.' 15:5 gift, (d-15) * i.e. an offering to God, see Mark 7.11 and note at Matt. 27.6. 15:7 saying, (e-8) Isa. 29.13. 15:12 this (f-17) Lit. 'the.' offended? (g-21) As ch. 13.57. and so wherever the word 'offend' occurs. 15:18 man. (h-19) Or 'the man.' 15:20 man; (h-7) man. (h-17) Or 'the man.' 15:21 into (i-9) Eis. Not necessarily within the territory, but in that neighbourhood. perhaps it might be translated 'into the neighbourhood,' only it is a little too free. The woman came out from the country of Tyre and Sidon. 15:26 dogs. (k-21) 'A little dog,' more slighting than 'dog' in Greek; but 'little dog' is rather the contrary in English. I would not say 'cur,' fearing it might be too strong, but I have no doubt of the greater contempt expressed by the word; also in ver. 27. 15:27 Yea, (l-4) Or else we may say 'Yet' here, as admitting the truth, but pleading; nai is used for affirming what is said, but also for beseeching, as, indeed, in English we say, 'Yes, do it.' 'Yet' seems perhaps to express this more clearly, as the admission of what Christ said is thus evident; the 'but' is wanting if we say 'yea.' The Authorized Version avoids the difficulty discussed by all the critics by translating freely, but the 'for even' of the original is lost. 'Yet' thus used gives assent and obsecration, and this seems the force of nai. See Rev. 22.20, 'Amen; come.' If we say 'Truth, Lord,' we must add 'yet.' 'Truth, Lord, [yet hear] for even.' As to nai having this tacitly beseeching character, see Philemon 20, and so it is taken by many. Otherwise nai contradicts the Lord, who had said ouk, and kai gar follows naturally. And I suspect this to be the better sense. 'Yes, Lord, you may do it, for even.' so I have put it in the text. 15:32 lest (a-41) See Note, ch. 5.25; Mark 4.12. 15:37 baskets (b-20) Larger than the 'hand-basket' in ch. 16.9. It is particularly a 'fish-basket.'