Mark 7:28

yet the dogs Rather, Yea Lord, for even the little dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. So it is rightly translated in Wyclif's and Cranmer's Versions, following the Vulgate "Etiam, Domine, nam et catelliedunt." "Truth it is Maister, for indeed the whelpes eat under the table, of the childerns crommes." Geneva, 1557. Her "yea" is the "yea" of admission not of contradiction. She accepts the declaration of Christ, and in that very declaration she affirms is involved the granting of her petition. "Saidst Thou dogs? It is well; I accept the title and the place; for the dogs have a portion of the meat not the first, not the children's portion, but a portion still the crumbs which fall from the table." Her words speak to us even now across the centuries, and our Church adopts her words of faith in the "Prayer of Humble Access" at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

crumbs These were probably something more than what would accidentally fall from the table. It was the custom during the meal for the guests after thrusting their hands into the common dish to wipe them on the soft white part of the bread, which, having thus used, they threw to the dogs.