תּוֹלֵעָה, H8438b
Worm or maggot (literal/figurative); scarlet dye material from the coccus ilicis insect used in tabernacle fabrics
A feminine noun referring either to the worm or maggot as a creature of decay and insignificance, or to the scarlet dyestuff derived from the scale insect (coccus ilicis). In its dominant usage, it appears in the construct chain תּוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי designating the crimson-dyed yarn woven into tabernacle curtains and priestly vestments. In its literal sense, the worm devours the dead (Isa 14:11) and symbolizes human frailty — the psalmist's cry 'I am a worm' (Ps 22:6) anticipates the Messiah's suffering, while Isaiah 41:14 uses it as a tender address to lowly Israel.
Senses
1. crimson/scarlet dye material — Scarlet or crimson dye material derived from the coccus ilicis insect, appearing almost exclusively in the construct תּוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי alongside תְּכֵלֶת (blue) and אַרְגָּמָן (purple) in Exodus and Leviticus tabernacle instructions. English and Spanish both render 'scarlet/gusano,' while German uses 'Scharlach,' all pointing to the dyestuff rather than the creature. Dominant across 31 of 39 occurrences (Exod 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36). 31×
AR["دُودِيًّا", "وَ-دودَ", "وَ-دودَةَ", "وَ-دودَةِ", "وَ-دودِ", "وَ-دُودَ", "وَ-دُودِ", "وَ-قِرمِزٌ", "وَ-قِرمِزٍ"]·ben["এবং-কীট-কৃমি", "এবং-কৃমি", "এবং-কৃমির", "কীট"]·DE["und-Scharlach-von", "und-scharlachrot-von", "yarn"]·EN["and-scarlet-of", "and-worm-of", "yarn"]·FR["et-ver-de", "et-écarlate-de", "fil"]·heb["ו-תולעת", "תולעת"]·HI["और-कीड़ा", "और-कीड़े-का", "और-कीड़े-की", "शनी"]·ID["cacing", "dan-kain", "dan-kain-kirmizi", "dan-kain-merah"]·IT["e-scarlatto-di", "yarn"]·jav["cacing", "lan-abrit", "lan-cèmeng"]·KO["그리고-벌레", "그리고-벨레", "그리고-볌간-실", "실의"]·PT["e-carmesim", "e-carmesim-de", "e-carmesim-de-", "verme"]·RU["и-червлёная", "и-червлёной", "и-червлёную", "нить"]·ES["gusano", "y-gusano-de"]·SW["mdudu", "na-mdudu-wa-", "na-nyuzi", "na-nyuzi-za-"]·TR["iplik", "ve-kırmızı"]·urd["اور-کیڑا", "اور-کیڑے-کے", "کیڑے-کی"]
Exod 26:1, Exod 26:31, Exod 26:36, Exod 27:16, Exod 28:5, Exod 28:6, Exod 28:8, Exod 28:15, Exod 28:33, Exod 35:6, Exod 35:23, Exod 35:25 (+19 more)
2. worm, maggot — A literal worm or maggot, used of vine-devouring grubs (Deut 28:39; Jonah 4:7), corpse-consuming creatures (Isa 14:11; 66:24, paired with רִמָּה), and as a powerful metaphor for human insignificance. Spanish 'gusano' and English 'worm' converge uniformly here. The psalmist's 'I am a worm, not a man' (Ps 22:6) and God's tender 'fear not, you worm Jacob' (Isa 41:14) transform the image from disgust into theological depth. 8×
AR["الدُّودَةُ", "تُرابٌ", "دُودٍ", "دُودَةً", "دُودَةٌ", "دُودَهُمْ", "رِمَةٌ", "يَا-دُودَةَ"]·ben["কীট", "তাদের-কীট", "পোকা"]·DE["Wurm", "[תולעה]", "[תולעת]", "[תולעתם]", "der-worm", "ein-Wurm", "worm"]·EN["O-worm", "a-worm", "the-worm", "their-worm", "worm"]·FR["[תולעה]", "[תולעת]", "[תולעתם]", "cramoisi", "le-worm", "ver", "worm", "תולעה"]·heb["ה-תולעת", "תולעה", "תולעת", "תולעתם"]·HI["कीट", "कीड़ा", "कीड़ा-उनका", "कीड़ा-हूँ", "कीड़ा।", "कीड़े"]·ID["cacing", "ulat", "ulat-mereka"]·IT["[תולעה]", "[תולעת]", "[תולעתם]", "il-worm", "un-verme", "worm"]·jav["abrit", "cacing", "cacing-ipun", "ler", "uler"]·KO["그-벌레가", "그들의-벌레가", "벌레", "벌레-를", "벌레라", "볌레라", "볌레이니라"]·PT["larva", "o-verme", "sou-verme", "verme", "verme-de", "verme-deles", "é-larva."]·RU["моль", "нить", "червь", "червь-их", "червя"]·ES["el-gusano", "gusano", "gusanos", "lombriz", "su-gusano"]·SW["funza", "mdudu", "minyoo", "minyoo-yao", "za-mdudu"]·TR["bocekler", "kurdun", "kurt", "kurtcuk", "kurtları", "solucani"]·urd["اُن-کا-کیڑا", "کیڑا", "کیڑا ہے", "کیڑے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
תּוֹלֵעָה, תּוֹלַ֫עַת n.f. worm;—abs. תּוֹלֵעָה Is 14:11; Jb 25:6; תּוֹלַעַת Is 41:14 +, תּוֹלָ֑עַת Dt 28:39 Nu 19:6; cstr. תּוֹלַ֫עַת Ex 25:4 +; sf. תּוֹלַעְתָּם Is 66:24;— 1. worm, grub, vine-weevil Jon 4:7; Dt 28:39 (coll.); devouring the dead Is 14:11 (coll.: ‖ רִמָּה), 66:24 (coll.); symbol of insignificance 41:14 Jb 25:6 (‖ רִמָּה), ψ 22:7. 2. elsewhere (P) specif., + שָׁנִי (q.v.), of the…