‎[Greek] πεινάω (peinaō), [German] hungria sein, [French] avoir faimen

[Greek] πεινάω (peinaō), [German] hungria sein, [French] avoir faimen: to hunger, to hunger for truth, to be hungry, to have a painful lack for something, to famish, to crave, to be famished, to be in a state of hunger, to desire strongly, to pine for, to suffer; 24 scriptures

Bread and Circuses: The Roman social contract in which the government leaders would provide free bread and free entertainment to the people.

Background Information:

Greek Hellenism: This term means to be hungry (for food) and to fervently desire something (necessary to life).

Xenophons’ Symposium 4.36: “I am told of certain despots, who have such a greedy appetite for riches, that they commit much more dreadful crimes.”

Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 7.5.50: “The Hyrcanians were the first to become our friends, and a time when we were very hungry for allies, so that in our affection for them, we all but carried them in our arms.”

Xenophon’s Economics 139: “For you will do much with them (slaves) by filling their bellies with the food they hanker after.”

Hunger:

1. Ever since antiquity, there are times when rulers have followed a social contract (duty) to ensure that their subjects have a subsistence level which will keep them from hunger.
2. The Pharaohs (and high officials) boasted of fulfilling this duty.
3. Plato concluded that begging should be forbidden by the law, since only the honest man deserves sympathy if he is hungry.
4. Bread and circuses (panem et circenses) was a Roman governmental social policy where the people no longer cared about political issues or participation, as long as they were being kept fed and entertained.
5. This policy lead to more and more extravagant and violent venues of entertainment. Other philosophies advocated moderation or self-sacrifice.

Old Testament: This term, relating to several Hebrew terms, refers to being hungry (for food), being voracious, being fatigued (weary), groaning, growling, languishing, and fainting.

New Testament: This term, occurring frequently, means being in a state of hunger (for physical or spiritual nourishment). References to physical hunger include Jesus, Paul, David, and common situational circumstances. In the Synoptic gospels, Jesus calls the hungry blessed. These are believers who seek help from Jesus because of their helplessness. This hunger is not a concern for the Jewish notion of hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Jesus states one will be judged in accordance to his acts of mercy toward others. Jesus stands in the place of the person who is hungry. The hungry, often painfully deficient in the things essential to life, seeks help and spiritual nourishment from Jesus. Jesus presents Himself as the Bread of Life, who gives life. This hunger is also for that God’s will be done for them. Paul also refers to a hunger for salvation. The hunger which Paul suffers is that he awaits the consummation of salvation brought by Christ.

Scripture:

Mt. 5:6: “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” (Jesus refers to those who seek moral conduct in conformity to Christ and God’s will, mercy, blessedness, holiness, joy, peace, and things of heaven (not of the world).) 

Mt.25:35: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Jesus identifies with the hungry person who needs help. Catholic social teachings state that one must first seek to help your neighbor in your immediate sphere of influence. After this, focus outward from your location.)

Lk.1:53: “The hungry He has filled with good things; the rich He sent away empty. (The Canticle of Mary precedes the Sermon on the Plain. The hungry’ were filled and satisfied with God’s righteousness. The rich, more focused on earthly riches, are not concerned with righteousness. God, in His providence, may withhold or take away these riches through misfortune.)

Lk.6:25: “But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.” (Luke curses those who focus on earthly riches. They will be hungry. For their riches will be taken away.)

1. Who are filled now: who value earthly riches, affluence, wealth, over-indulgence, vanity, pride, status, and who do not value lasting spiritual treasures
2. Who will be hungry: their earthly property will be taken away, their property will have little value, they will hunger for something far better, their hunger will never be satisfied.

Jn.6:35: Jesus said to them, ‘I am the Bread of life; who comes to me will never hunger, and who believes in Me will never thirst.’” (In the Bread of Life Discourse Jesus offers His true Body and true Blood as spiritual nourishment for those who hunger and thirst. This becomes the Catholic basis for receiving the Eucharist.)

Bread of Life Discourse:

1. Jesus instructs others to work for food that endures for eternal life. (Jn.6:27)
2. Who ever comes to Jesus will never and thirst. (Jn.6:35)
3. The Jews murmuring among themselves as they can only see Jesus the carpenter’s son. (Jn.6:41-43)
4. Jesus states that He is the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. (Jn.6:51).
5.  The Jews quarreled among themselves. They are thinking, “Jesus is talking about cannibalism!”
6. In Jn 6:54, 56-58 Jesus uses a more graphic and explicit form of eating His Body ===> gnawing or munching on  [Greek] τρώγω (trōgō): to gnaw, to munch.
7. Jn.6:54: “Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life.”
8. Jn.6:56: “Whoever eats my Flesh and dinks my Blood remains in Me and I in him.”
9. Jn.6:57: “The one who feeds on Me will have life because of Me.”
10. Jn.6:58: Whoever eats this Bread will live forever.”
11. The disciples were having a very difficult time in accepting what Jesus was saying to them. (Jn.6:60)
12. Many of His disciples walked away and no longer accompanied Him. (Jn.6:66)    (Is this perhaps a coincidence to 666, the sign for the devil ===> disobedience, rebellion, and undermining
13. Jesus allowed these disciples to walk way. Jesus did NOT say, “Come back. I was only speaking metaphorically and figuratively!”

“Rom.12:20: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals upon his head.”

Pine (as a verb), penury, penitence, penance, hungry, hunger, famine

Conclusion:

Pagan culture: appeasement of the gods. “We must do whatever it takes to keep the gods happy. Otherwise, we will starve!”

Unwritten social contracts between rulers and their citizens:

1. Now you wonder why there were Roman gladiators and Christian executions in the Roman Colosseum.
2. Even to this day many people can’t get enough of violent entertainment.
3. Some things still haven’t changed. :~(
4. Many seek the spectacle of physical combat and violence ===> MMA and professional wrestling

           Now title of the Star Trek episode “Bread and Circuses” finally makes sense! A 20th century Roman empire televising gladiator contests!

It is significant that hunger is related to both God’s wrath (carrying the enemy’s yoke) and also the righteous. God will provide for the righteous who hungers.

Jesus stands in the place of the hungry person and also provides spiritual nourishment (Bread of Life). Jesus calls the hungry blessed. This spiritual hunger may involve finding God’s will for oneself.

Penury is a state of extreme poverty and destitution. This is also related to the Greek peine and Latin poena, meaning pain. Interestingly the French word le pain means bread.

Update (Sept 2020)