Mark 7:26

‘Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she pleaded with him that he would cast out the demon from her daughter.'

Mark, like Matthew, makes absolutely clear that the woman was not of the Jewish race. She was ‘a Greek', although not by race for she was a Syrophoenician. So ‘a Greek' probably simply means a Gentile. Alternately it may signify Greek in culture and language.

‘A Syrophoenician by race.' A Phoenician of Syria in contrast to those of Carthage.

‘Pleaded with Him.' That is, described the situation and earnestly begged Him to accompany her to rid her daughter of this dreadful demon that was possessing her.

‘That He would cast out the demon.' In Mark 7:25 it was described as ‘an unclean spirit'. That was Mark's way of describing it. This was the woman's, ‘a demon'. ‘Unclean' would mean nothing to her. And that is the point. If Jesus had just responded without further comment she would simply have gone away and thanked her gods. But Jesus gently made her face up to the fact that there was only one God Who could help her, and that she must first acknowledge Him.