7:27 first. Though in Gentile territory, Jesus maintains the temporal priority of Israel (“the children”) in the divine plan of salvation, as Paul does later (Rom. 1:16; 2:10; cf. Acts 1:8; 13:46, 47).

dogs. The term is certainly derogatory (Matt. 7:6; Phil. 3:2; Rev. 22:15), though the Greek word includes the nuance “little dogs” or “pets.” It should be seen as an example of Jesus’ colorful imagery of table fellowship to explain the plan of salvation, namely, that “salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). The woman takes it in this sense, as her reply indicates.