Dog

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 1min
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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Constantly referred to in scripture as an unclean and debased animal: hence the unclean Gentiles or heathen are compared to dogs (Psa. 22:1616For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16); Psa. 59:6,146They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. (Psalm 59:6)
14And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. (Psalm 59:14)). The price of a dog was forbidden to be put into the Lord’s treasury, it was an abomination (Deut. 23:1818Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God. (Deuteronomy 23:18)). Hazael, a heathen, said, “Is thy servant a dog?” and the most offensive epithet was to call a man a dead dog. They were, and are, the scavengers of Eastern cities. All refuse is thrown into the streets and the dogs eat it. It was the dogs who ate the body of Jezebel, and licked up the blood of Naboth and of Ahab. In the New Testament it is the same: “without are dogs,” “beware of dogs,” used symbolically of those cut off and of the unclean: they return to their vomit again. The only apparent exception to the above is when the Lord compared the Syrophenician woman to a dog, and she said, “Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” In these passages the diminutive of the word is used, implying “little dogs, or puppies,” and these are often kept in houses until they grow up. But this does not remove the contempt implied in the term (Matt. 15:2727And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. (Matthew 15:27)). Wyclif translated “houndis” and “litil whelpis” in Mark 7:27- 2827But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. 28And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. (Mark 7:27‑28).