[Greek] τρώγω (trōgō), [Latin] mandere, [French] manger: to gnaw, to munch, to crunch, to feed on, to bite; Mt.24:38, Jn.6:54, Jn.6:56, Jn.6:57, Jn.6:58, Jn.13:18
A trogon is a tropical bird which nibbles and gnaw holes in trees for nests.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term, never used symbolically, figuratively, or metaphorically, means to gnaw, to bite, to feast, to eat, and to chew audibly. Homer’s Odyssey 6.90 states “There they loosed the mules under the wagon and drove them along the eddying river to graze on the honey-sweet water grass.” Aristophanes’ Acharnians 806 states “Come, let some figs be brought for these little pigs. Will they eat then? Goodness! How they munch then, what a grinding of teeth.” Aristophanes’ Wasps 367 states “The best way is to gnaw through the net. Oh goddess, who watches over nets, forgive me for making a hole in this one.” Demosthenes’ On the False Embassy 19.197 states “They only tried to make her drink quietly and eat dessert; so Iatrocles told me the following day. But as they carouse (feasting), and they became heated, they ordered her to sit down and give them a song.”
New Testament: This term, not found in the Old Testament, means to gnaw or to chew. This term also is never used symbolically, figuratively, or metaphorically. The sense of eating can convey simple eating for nourishment, intimate dining, sumptuous (intense) eating, and savoring a meal. Rather than a simple eating, chewing and munching involve a sustained total consumption of food. In Jn.13:18 Judas’ betrayal becomes all the more cruel after his intimate meal with Jesus. In Mt.24:38 in the days before the flood, Matthew points to those eating with Noah intimately and sumptuously eating and drinking at the wedding feast, unaware of the coming deluge of Noah’s flood. It is also interesting to note that there is no other term which links eating and drinking with a marriage celebration.
Scripture:
“In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.” Mt.24:38
This was a sumptuous and intimate wedding feast. The people were carousing (eating and drinking) oblivious of the coming worldwide flood.
“The one who ate My food has raised his against Me.” Jn.13:18
Judas had just shared an intimate meal with Jesus. This becomes a bitter betrayal from Judas.
Bread of Life Discourse:
“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” Jn.6:54
The disciples begin to become uncomfortable about what Jesus is saying. Jesus is stating that one, who gnaws or chews His flesh, will have eternal life. This refers to an ongoing eating process. This eating of Jesus must be continual.
“This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” Jn. 6:58
The ancestors who ate manna perished. Unlike the manna, Jesus offers Bread that will give everlasting life. Interestingly, this scripture both shows the verb phago (normal eating) and the verb trogo (gnawing or chewing).
Trogon: This bird belongs to the genus Troginidae. The Greek word means nibbler and refers to the fact that these birds gnaw holes in trees to make their nests. These birds might be closely related to owls and mousebirds. Trogons are found in tropical forests worldwide. These birds feed on insects and fruit. Trogons are generally not migratory.
Conclusion:
Trogon, manger, mandible
First of all, it is important to note that this term is never used figuratively, metaphorically, or symbolically in any period in history. This term relates to the graphic nature of eating (gnawing and chewing) of food. One cannot get more graphic than pigs munching! This eating pertains to feasting, carousing, or savoring of food in an intimate setting.
The Jews did not have a specific word for chewing or gnawing. Therefore, the Hebrew word for eating (akal) was never translated to the Greek verb trogo.
In the New Testament, this term is found in the Bread of Life discourse in John 6. Jesus was addressing His disciples in that they must eat His Body and drink His Blood in order to have eternal life. The disciples were becoming uncomfortable upon hearing this. Jesus was speaking to the reality (not symbolism) of His Body and Blood. It is interesting to note that Jesus did not try to convince the departing disciples to come back and say, “Come back, I was speaking only figuratively!” Instead, Jesus says, “Do you also want to leave?” (Jn. 6:67).
Perhaps the greatest and saddest irony of all is this. The Jews couldn’t drink of the blood because the life (of the flesh) is in the blood (Lev.17:11). But Jesus is offering everlasting life which is in His Blood. The Jews could not accept Jesus’ desire to satisfy our thirst for eternal life. This was a drink that the Jews could not take.
Many non-Catholics and Christians have often used these scriptures to claim that Jesus was only speaking figuratively, symbolically, or metaphorically about His Body and Blood. All historical and scriptural evidence disprove this claim!
It is also important to recognize that this term is related to eating at wedding celebrations. In fact, Jesus also refers to Himself as the Bridegroom who “marries” His bride, the Church. Scriptures also speak of the heavenly wedding feast.
It is also quite interesting to note that in Jn.6:66, many of Jesus’ disciples walk away. Perhaps, it is not surprising that this could have been from the prompting of Satan (666)!
In Jn.6:47 and Jn.6:53, Jesus states “Amen, amen, I say to you…” These words give an indication (warning) that He will be immediately saying something very important.
To be honest, I never heard of the word trogon. But this is an actual bird. I could have stated –Useless Word Alert–! But I was able to find an actual word which comes from the Greek term trogo (which allowed me to make this post). Besides, it’s such a pretty bird!
A manger is essentially a feeding trough (container) for animals. A manger was a makeshift crib for the baby Jesus.
A mandible is the jawbone in mammals. The mandible claw is a submission move used in wrestling to pinch the nerves of the lower mouth (jaw).
For so long I have always wanted to talk about this topic in one of my posts. But it was “gnawing” at me in how I was going to accomplish this. So, a little birdy (trogon) helped me! So, I don’t have the heart to make this trogon useless! So I hope you will “chew” on this post as “food for thought”.