[Greek] σφάζω (sphazō), [Latin] jugulare, [French] assassiner: to slay, to slaughter, to butcher, to kill, to wound; 1Jn.3:12, Rev.5:6,9,12, Rev.6:4,9, Rev.13:3,8, Rev.18:24
The central panel of the Ghent Altarpiece at St. Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium: painting by Hubert van Eyck and Jan van Eyck (1432). Here is a gathering of saints, sinners, clergy and soldiers in adoration of the Lamb of God
Background information:
Ghent Altarpiece (Adoration of the Mystic Lamb: This altarpiece is set of panels (paintings) in St. Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium. These panels were finished in 1432 by the Dutch painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck. This altarpiece is considered a masterpiece of European art. This portrait is one of the lower central panels illustrating the clergy and soldiers in adoration of the Lamb of God. This painting makes reference to blood and water immediately flowing out of Jesus’ side (Jn.19:34).
Greek Hellenism: This term, used in a profane (secular) and cultic sense, means to slay or slaughter with a sword. The Greek term for sword is spathi. Customarily, the slaying of the sword is aimed at the esophagus where the carotid artery is located. This allows for the quick pouring out of blood necessary for animal sacrifices. Sacrifices were offered to the gods for the purposes of celebrating feasts, seeking the gods’ intercession, and withholding the gods’ wrath. Slaughtering of man can result from murder, battle, civil wars, atrocities, passion, and suicide.
Slaying of men: Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 3.1.25 states “It is still clear what a burden fear is; some, for fear that they will be caught and put to death, in terror take their own lives before their time; some, by hurling themselves over a precipice, others by hanging themselves, others by cutting their own throats. Euripides’ Andromache 315 states “And if you do not leave and vacate this precinct, the boy here will be slaughtered in place of you. So consider this, whether you prefer to die or have this boy killed for the misdeeds you are committing against me and against my daughter.
Slaying of animals: Homer’s Odyssey 10.532 states “But do thou thereafter call to my comrades, and bid them flay and burn the sheep that lie there, slain by the pitiless bronze, and make prayer to the gods.” Homer’s Odyssey 3.449 states “Thrasymedes, high of heart, came near and dealt the blow and the axe cut through the sinews of the neck, and loosened the strength of the heifer.” Herodotus’ The Histories 2.39 states “After leading the marked beast to the altar where they sacrifice it, they kindle a fire, then they pour wine on the altar over the victim and call upon the god, then they cut its throat.”
Old Testament:
Slaying of men: Slayings are also illustrated in profane (secular) and cultic ways. The righteous are sometimes butchered by God’s enemies through massacres, wars, or civil strife. The Ephramites (in Jordan) and the Maccabbeans (in Israel) were slaughtered. God’s enemies are also sometimes slaughtered. In a cultic sense, Abraham, being tested by God, offered to sacrifice his son Isaac. Samuel slays the Amalekite king Agag. The adulterous Jerusalem is accused of slaughtering her children to the idols she has made. The Hellenistic Jewish philosophers make frequent mention of the violent motivations for slaughtering.
Slaying of animals: Slaying of animals were provisionally permitted in isolated regions. Generally, animal sacrifices were forbidden outside the cultic sanctuary. It was forbidden to let the blood flow to the ground and for one to eat the flesh before the blood completely drained out. The thief occasionally stole or slaughtered cattle. A stone was used for ritual offerings to collect the blood. The blood and fat were set aside for God. Altars were also used to gather and place the blood.
New Testament: This term essentially means to slaughter (slay). This term is found in 1 John and Revelations. These scriptural examples refer to Cain slaughtering Abel, the slain Lamb of God, the martyrs (souls of those who had been slaughtered), and the beast (whose mortal wound was healed). The Johannine tradition presents the Passover lamb which bears the mark of slaughtering on its neck. The martyrs are compared to animal sacrifices being slain on the altar. The blood of the martyrs also flow out at the heavenly altar.
Scripture:
“Unlike Cain who belonged to the evil one and slaughtered his brother. Why did he slaughter him? Because his own works were evil, and those of his brother righteous.” 1Jn.3:12
Cain, out of jealousy, slayed his brother.
“Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders, a Lam that seem to have been slain.” Rev.5:6
The Lamb of God, a sacrificial victim, achieves ultimately victory redeeming mankind.”
“When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God.” Rev.6:9
The martyrs, like sacrificial lambs, shed their blood in witness to God. These martyrs are also sacrificed on a heavenly altar.
Conclusion:
Esophagus, jugular, assassinate
To be honest, I was unsure if the word esophagus is related to this Greek term sphazo. Perhaps, it was just a coincidence that a sword is placed at esophagus at the location of the carotid artery. Even the threat of potential slaughter can wield great power.
In the Old Testament, God plays a more prominent in ordaining that sometimes people (God’s enemies) die by the sword. Other times, some (like Abraham) are put to the test in offering sacrifices (Isaac). Some Maccabeeans were slaughtered due to holding (adhering) to the Law. Some Zealots used the sword to attack the Roman Empire.
For the Jews (Hebrews), it was very important to have the blood completely drained from the animal. It was absolutely forbidden to partake of the blood (Lev.23:27). The life was in the blood.
In the New Testament, the Lamb of God provides a paradoxical image of a meek animal which achieves ultimate victory. It is also interesting to note that the bones of the martyrs were called trophies. These martyrs achieved the ultimate victory in being faithful to God.
When Jesus told His disciples that they must eat and drink His Body and Blood, many disciples walked away. Some walked away because they thought Jesus was referring to cannibalism. Yet Jesus never said, “Wait a minute. Come back. I was just speaking figuratively!” Jesus was not speaking figuratively or metaphorically. Others Jews walked away because they were brought up to believe that drinking the blood was forbidden. Since the life was in the blood, the Jews were prohibited by their faith in drinking the blood. Yet, Jesus was saying that they will not have everlasting life if they do not partake of His Body and Blood. The greatest and saddest irony is that their sincerely held Jewish beliefs prevented them from obtaining this everlasting life. Catholics believe that the Eucharist contains the real Body and Blood of Christ. Other Christians denominations have other varying beliefs about what He offered to His disciples.
No matter how you slice it, this Catholic belief continues today in the Mass.