Syrophenician: "a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation" (Mark 7:26), i.e., a Gentile born in the Phoenician part of Syria. (See PHENICIA.)

When our Lord retired into the borderland of Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21), a Syro-phoenician woman came to him, and earnestly besought him, in behalf of her daughter, who was grievously afflicted with a demon. Her faith in him was severely tested by his silence (Matthew 15:23), refusal (Matthew 15:24), and seeming reproach that it was not meet to cast the children's bread to dogs (Matthew 15:26). But it stood the test, and her petition was graciously granted, because of the greatness of her faith (Matthew 15:28).