Analyzing Psalm 22: I am a Worm not a Man

Psalm 22: 6-8 - A small word in Hebrew can lead to an amazing journey of understanding in how God’s words connect all things together!

Crimson “worm” also known as Kermis Ilicis or Coccus Ilicis . DigitalManna image.

”But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people. All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

The forsaken ones (David and his future Greater Son) deepen their lament, crying out that they are not even men but no better than a worm. Jesus didn’t cry out this way on the cross, but he was despised by most who stood there, laughing at the beaten, blood-stained and dying Son of God. But there is so much more to the story on what this means!

Let me say up front that in my research for this passage, especially verse 6, I was so blown away by what I discovered that I had to get up and walk around the house in tears. A single word in the Bible is so profound!! That will tell readers and believers that they should not let those words from scripture just flow by robotically without truly trying to understand them and the deep meanings they have.

Let’s dig into the word “worm” in Hebrew: This comes from the word תּוֹלָע or tôwlâʻ, which has the following Biblical usages:

1. worm, scarlet stuff, crimson

   1. worm - the female 'coccus ilicis'

   2. scarlet stuff, crimson, scarlet

      1. the dye made from the dried body of the female of the worm "coccus ilicis"

2. worm, maggot

   1. worm, grub

   2. the worm "coccus ilicis"

The lexicon on Blue Letter Bible extends the usage to include this explanation, from Henry Morris:

When the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly and permanently that she would never leave again. The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid stained her body and the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted. What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding his precious blood that he might 'bring many sons unto glory' (Hbr 2:10)! He died for us, that we might live through him! Psa 22:6 describes such a worm and gives us this picture of Christ. (cf. Isa 1:18)" (Henry Morris. Biblical Basis for Modern Science, Baker Book House, 1985, p. 73)

If that doesn’t amaze you, here is a summary of this part of Psalm 22 from DigitalManna.org that I stumbled across looking for a photo of the crimson worm, which is the one I used above:

• Psalm 22

  • Predicts the death of Jesus 1,000 years before it occurred

  • Describes a crucifixion which was invented 400+ years later

  • Modern scientists thought the dye came from a plant until 2,700+ years later

  • The information is historically and geographically accurate

  • The comparisons are scientifically accurate

• The mother worm

  • Attaches to a tree until death

  • Dies in order to give life

  • 3 days later, all that’s left is the red stain on the wood

• The young

  • Feed upon the mother’s body so that they can live

  • Are permanently stained red by the broken body

  • Escape through the narrow gap

• The color

  • Represents both royalty and life

• The paste

  • Has been used in medicines to help the heart beat smoothly

• The waxy covering

  • Has been used to make shellac, a preservative of wood

And Precept Austin has a long section just on Psalm 22:6, where this gem was found (links go to the Logos Bible but you may have to type the reference in again):

As mysterious as is the figure of the King of glory (Ps 24:7-10) condescending to become like a mere WORM, the picture is even more profound when we examine the original language. The Hebrew word for WORM is TOLA, which most scholars associate with a CRIMSON WORM (Coccus Ilicis) that in ancient times was crushed to procure its blood-red SCARLET dye (Hebrew for "scarlet" is same word TOLA), the SCARLET dye used to adorn the "ten curtains" of the Tabernacle (Ex 26:1), "the screen for the (one) doorway of the" Tabernacle (Ex 26:36, cp "I am the door" Jn 10:9), the Veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies (Ex 26:31, cp Jesus' cry with a loud voice, yielding up His Spirit and the Veil of the temple tearing from top to bottom, opening "a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His [torn] flesh" - Mt 27:50-51, Heb 10:19-20) and the beautiful garments of the high priest (Ex 28:5-6, Jesus became our "merciful and faithful high priest" Heb 2:17).

Indeed, how deep is the mystery of these OT uses of TOLA which depict a WORM in Ps 22:6 and in 33 OT passages (most in Exodus) depict the blood-red SCARLET material which foreshadowed the Messiah, even His work of redemption on the Cross! Little did the Roman soldiers comprehend the deep significance of the SCARLET robe they placed on Christ, mocking Him with their cry "Hail, King of the Jews" (Mt 27:28-29)! And so we see the Holy One of Israel Who was "made for a little while lower than the angels" (Heb 2:9), then even lower than man, and yes finally made like a mere TOLA, a helpless "crimson worm," a WORM that was crushed beneath the load of our sin, "having become a curse for us." (Gal 3:13).

For anyone who says the Bible is not the inspired word of God, I would point them to this passage as one of the amazing examples of the mysterious ways of our Lord!

Photo by Manuel Guerrero on Unsplash

Continuing through these verses, David writes about being the reproach of men, despised and sneered at. He talks about how these mockers wag their heads, telling this forsaken one (and the greater one to come) to commit to the Lord to and let God rescue him. Does this sound familiar? Here is what Enduring Word says about those who mock the forsaken:

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him”: David’s misery multiplied at those who mocked and misunderstood his agony. They used it as an excuse to call into question his relationship with God, even as the friends of Job did with him in his suffering.

• It was as if they said, “It seemed that he trusted in the LORD, but we all know that the LORD rescues those who trust in Him. It seemed that he delighted in God, but that must be false because he is not delivered.”

• He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him: If Jesus identified with the opening words of Psalm 22 with His great cry from the cross (Matthew 27:46), then His enemies unwittingly identified with the scornful enemies of God and His Anointed in their mockery of Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:43: He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now).

• [Charles] Spurgeon preached a sermon (Faith Among Mockers) in which he considered the implication of this word against the Forsaken One, “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him.”

  • In a truly grace-filled man, his trust in God is known.

  • This trust demonstrated by believing men is not understood by the world.

  • This true faith will almost certainly be mocked at some time or another.

  • The time shall come when the man of faith who has trusted in God shall be abundantly justified.

Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him: This statement reveals the frequent ignorance and cruelty of those who oppose God and His people. It claimed to see no deliverance, when it would indeed come soon. It also questioned the delight of God in the Forsaken One, when God did and does truly delight in that one.

• “A most virulent irony, whereby they sought to cajole him out of his confidence, and so to drive him into utter desperation and destruction.” (John Trapp)

The ignorance and cruelty by those who oppose God is compounded in our modern age. Mockery and sneering at believers runs rampant in social media, in our entertainment world (with some exceptions), from those who worship science as the answer to the questions and mystery of life, and even between acquaintances and family members. I used to be a world-class mocker, back in my wilderness years (Lord, forgive me again!) Our trust in God is not understood by the world, but the time will come when people of faith will be justified!

My next devotional examines Psalm 22: 9-11, A Plea to God by the Forsaken.

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Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:

Dear Lord - I am humbled beyond words at seeing the extraordinary connections between this Psalm and the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross. Please keep me strong and trusting in this life so that my faith will be justified when the time comes. Amen.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

The Blue Letter Bible was accessed on 2/25/2024 to review the lexicon and usage of the word worm.

No usage or permissions information was found for DigitalManna.

The personal testimony of Bruce Hurt, creator of Precept Austin can be found Here.

Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.