Syrophoenician

Si´roh-fi-nish´uhn

The woman who, having heard of Jesus’s ministry, sought healing for her daughter (Mark 7:26). She is also referred to as a Greek, i.e., as a Gentile. The term “Syrophoenician” indicates that this woman was from Phoenicia, located in the Roman province of Syria, or, more specifically, from the area of the old cities of Tyre and Sidon. In the parallel passage (Matt 15:22), the woman is called a “Canaanite,” an ancient geographical designation that would have included this area.