What is the "worm" in Psalm 22:6?
In "I am a worm, and no man" (Psa 22:6), the word is tola'ath, the crimson grub whose crushed body gave the ancient world its scarlet dye. The Messiah of the cross names Himself not the lion of strength but the small creature that is crushed to yield crimson, "he was bruised for our iniquities" (Isa 53:5).
What the text states
In the psalm of the cross, the sufferer says, "But I am a worm, and no man" (Psa 22:6). The Hebrew word is tola'ath, and it is not the common earthworm. It is the crimson grub, the coccus or kermes scale insect, whose body when crushed yielded the deep scarlet dye of the ancient world. The same word stands behind the scarlet of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:4) and the crimson of Isaiah 1:18. So when the King of Psalm 22 names Himself, He does not reach for the lion. He reaches for the creature that is crushed so its crimson can cover, "he was bruised for our iniquities" (Isa 53:5). The color of the tabernacle, the color of covering, and the worm crushed to make it are one word.
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Verified. Every scripture quotation on this page has been checked word-for-word against the King James text. Last reviewed 2026-10-07.
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