Many Hebrew words are translated worm, all indicative of something loathsome, destructive, helpless, or insignificant, as the moth
(Isa. 51:8); maggot (Job 19:26); possibly the serpent (Mic. 7:17). The allusion (Isa. 64:24; Mark 9:44-48), is thought to be to the valley near Jerusalem where the refuse of the city constantly bred worms and where fires were kept burning to consume the collections. The helplessness of the worm affords the figures (Job 25:6; Psa. 22:6; Isa. 41:14).