What is…
Syrophenicia and who is the Syrophenician woman?

Syrophenicia is the Phoenician part of Syria. A Syrophenician is one who was born there.

Dor (Dora) was a Phoenician city on the Syrian coast.

At the time of Christ, Syrophenicia was a Gentile, pagan and idolatrous place and had long been so.

• About Ancient Syria in the Bible
• Phoenicia and Phoenicians in the Bible

Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. —Mark 7:26

She is also called a Canaanite in Matthew because these were the historic lands of the Canaanites, and because the name “Canaanite” is sometimes used in general to designate non-Israelite inhabitants.

When our Christ retired from the crowds into the borderland of Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21), this Syrophoenician woman came to him earnestly requesting His help for her daughter who was grievously afflicted with a demon.

…His disciples came and were pleading with Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” —Matt. 15:23 LSB excerpt

Her faith in Him was severely tested by His silence (Matthew 15:23), His initial refusal (Matt. 15:24), and seeming reproach that “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” He indicated that it was not appropriate to throw the children’s bread to the dogs (Matt. 15:26).

But she came and was bowing down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

Then Jesus responded, “Because of this answer go” …“your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.”

Her faith stood His test. She believed in His Divine power and knew that He could send the demon away without even seeing her daughter and visiting her home. Her persistent petition of complete faith was graciously and instantly granted. Upon returning home “she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.”

See: Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30