τρώγω (trōgō)
trōgō
to eat
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb trōgō describes eating with a specific physical action: to gnaw, crunch, or chew. While it originally referred to animals nibbling on raw vegetables or nuts, by the time of the New Testament it had evolved in everyday speech to mean simply "to eat." This shift from a precise image of chewing to a general term for consuming food is evident in its usage across the Gospels.
In John 6:54-58, Jesus uses this word when speaking about eating his flesh. The choice of trōgō here adds a layer of visceral reality to his teaching, emphasizing that participation in him is not merely spiritual or abstract but involves a tangible, sustained act of receiving and internalizing life. It grounds the theological concept in the physical experience of nourishment.
Although it appears only six times in the New Testament, its presence in Matthew 24:38 alongside John’s Gospel highlights its role in describing ordinary human activity. Translators typically render it as "eat," but the underlying sense of chewing and consuming remains a reminder that faith involves more than intellectual assent; it requires active, personal engagement with what is offered.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word trōgō carries a physical weight that simple translations often smooth over. It describes the act of chewing, gnawing, or crunching food. When Jesus uses this term in John 6, He is not speaking of a distant, abstract belief. He is inviting His followers to engage with Him in the most tangible way possible. Just as we physically consume bread to sustain our bodies, this word suggests that faith requires us to take in Christ’s presence deeply and repeatedly.
This visceral language reminds us that Christianity is not merely an intellectual exercise. It is a lived reality where we continually receive spiritual nourishment. The act of eating implies hunger, acceptance, and the internalization of what sustains us. In moments when your faith feels dry or distant, remember that you are invited to return to this source of life, taking it in bite by bite until you are fully sustained.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- eating5×
- feeding on1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τρώγων5×
- τρώγοντες1×
Key Verses
-
John 6:54
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jesus uses this specific verb for 'eating' to emphasize that eternal life comes from a deep, physical-like union with His sacrifice.
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John 6:56
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.
The word underscores the mutual indwelling between Christ and the believer, rooted in the continuous act of receiving Him.
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Matthew 24:38
For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,
This occurrence shows the word’s everyday usage, describing the mundane activities of people who were oblivious to impending judgment.