σκωληκόβρωτος

eaten by worms

Definition

The adjective σκωληκόβρωτος (skōlēkobrōtos) means 'eaten by worms' or 'worm-eaten.' It describes a state of bodily decay and corruption, specifically from being consumed by maggots or intestinal parasites. In its sole biblical occurrence in Acts 12:23, it vividly depicts the gruesome, divinely inflicted death of King Herod Agrippa I. The term carries a strong connotation of a humiliating and divinely orchestrated judgment, contrasting human pride with a degrading physical end.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 12:23, to describe the cause of King Herod Agrippa I's death. It is employed in a narrative context highlighting God's judgment against a ruler who accepted blasphemous praise and persecuted the church. The usage is stark and literal, reporting a historical event of sudden, horrific physical decay as a direct consequence of Herod's pride.

Etymology

Derived from two Greek roots: σκώληξ (skōlēx, G4663), meaning 'worm' or 'maggot,' and βιβρώσκω (bibrōskō), a verb meaning 'to eat' or 'devour.' It is a compound adjective literally meaning 'worm-devoured.' This formation is similar to other Greek compounds describing being consumed by something (e.g., by fire, by rust).

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it illustrates the biblical theme of God's direct judgment against human arrogance and opposition to His purposes. Herod's worm-eaten death (Acts 12:23) stands in stark contrast to his royal splendor and the people's acclamation, demonstrating that God humbles the proud. It serves as a sobering reminder of divine sovereignty over life and death, and the severe consequences of claiming divine honor for oneself.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, a death described as 'eaten by worms' was considered particularly shameful, disgusting, and indicative of a curse or divine disfavor. It symbolized the ultimate humiliation and decay, the very opposite of an honorable death. This cultural understanding amplifies the narrative impact in Acts, showing Herod's dramatic fall from popular acclaim to a cursed end.

σαπρός (sapros, G4550) — means 'rotten' or 'decayed,' describing a general state of corruption, but not specifying consumption by worms. φθαρτός (phthartos, G5349) — means 'perishable' or 'corruptible,' focusing on the mortal, decaying nature of physical creation, not the specific agent of decay.

Word Details

Scripture References