Worm
The following Heb. words are tr. worm in AV. 1. cp sCi-s^ o-?), tinea (Is 51®), is undoubtedly the same as the Arab. siis. It is the grub of the moth, dsh, Arab. 'lUh^ mentioned in the same passages. See MOTH. 2. :vp.rimmdk==^ maggots, bred in putrefying vegetable (Ex 16^) and animal (Job 7** 17" 21''^ 24^0, Is 14") substances. Once man is declared to be such a maggot (Job 25^). 3.
n;'SiB toleahy yVw tola, nyVm tUaathx (a) a maggot, generated in putrefying vegetable (Ex 16=°) and animal (Is 14^ 66=-) substances; (6) a worm which gnaws and blights plants (Dt 28^^, Jon 4'). The number of these is very large in the Holy Land ; (c) liguratively to denote the weakness of man (Job 25^ Ps 22S Is 41"). ySin and nit'^iB are used also of the coccus {see Crim- son, Scarlet). Earth worms do not seem to be included in the meaning of any of tlie above names.
The term worms (AVm creeping tiling,' KV 'crawling things') of the earth; n^ ^qi, LXX <r<}povrt% yijv (iMie 7"), is probably generic for all reptiles and n\ urms which burrow in the ground. It certainly does not refer to any genus or sjiecies. The worms of which Herod died {(tku}\t}^, Ac 12^) may have been maggots bred in a gangrenous mass. Josephus says that he died five days after he was smitten. ^kwXtj^ is also mentioned in Apocr. (Sir 10" 19^, I Mac 2*). G. E. Post.
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Worm
the representative in the Authorized Version of several Hebrew words. Sas, which occurs in (Isaiah 51:18) probably denotes some particular species of moth, whose larva is injurious to wool. Rimmah, (Exodus 16:20) points evidently to various kinds of maggots and the larvae of insects which feed on putrefying animal matter, rather than to earthworms. Toleah is applied in (28:39) to some kinds of larvae destructive to the vines. In (Job 19:26; 21:26; 24:20) there is an allusion to worms (insect larvae) feeding on the dead bodies of the buried. There is the same allusion in (Isaiah 66:24) which words are applied by our Lord, (Mark 9:44,46,48) metaphorically to the torments of the guilty in the world of departed spirits. The valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem, where the filth of the city was cast, was alive with worms. The death of Herod Agrippa I, was caused by worms. (Acts 12:23)
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Worm
Not the earth worm (Lumbricus terrestris). Isa 51:8; "the moth ('ash) shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm (sas) shall eat them like wool." The sas is a species of (See MOTH . Rimmah synonymous with toleah; applied to the worm bred in the manna when kept more than a day (Exo 16:26), tolaim, answering to rimmah (Exo 16:24); so in Job 25:6; maggots and larvae of insects which feed on putrefying matter (Job 21:26; Job 24:20; Job 7:5; Job 17:4); maggots were bred in Job's sores produced by elephantiasis. "Herod was eaten of worms" (Act 12:23). Josephus tells the same of Herod the Great (Act 19:8), and 2Ma 9:9 of Antiochus Epiphanes. In Job 19:26; Hebrew "though after my skin (is destroyed) this (body) is destroyed," Job omits "body" because it was so wasted as not to deserve the name. The tolath was to eat the grapes of apostate Israel (Deu 28:39); also Jonah's gourd (Jon 4:7). Hell is associated with the "worm that dieth not," an image from maggots preying on putrid carcass (Isa 66:24). (See HELL) Mar 9:44; Mar 9:46; Mar 9:48, "THEIR worm" is the gnawing self reproach of consc…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia