Bible Dictionaries
Worm

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the general name in Scripture for little creeping insects. Several kinds are spoken of:

1. Those that breed in putrefied bodies, רסה , Exodus 16:20; Exodus 16:24; Job 7:5; Job 17:14; Job 21:26; Job 24:20; Job 25:6; Isaiah 14:11; ακωληξ , Sir_7:17; Sir_10:11; 1Ma_2:62; 2Ma_9:9; Jdt_16:17; Mark 9:44; Mark 9:46; Mark 9:48; Acts 12:23 .

2. That which eats woollen garments, סס , Isaiah 51:8; σης , Matthew 6:19-20; Luke 12:33 .

3. That which, perforating the leaves and bark of trees, causes the little excrescences called kermes, whence is made a crimson dye, תולע , Deuteronomy 28:39; Job 25:6; Psalms 22:6; Isaiah 14:11; Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 66:24; Exodus 16:20; Jonah 4:7 .

4. The worm destructive of the vines, referred to in Deuteronomy 28:39; which was the pyralis vitanae, or pyralis fasciana, of Forskal, the vine weevil, a small insect extremely hurtful to the vines.

Bibliography Information
Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Worm'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​wtd/​w/worm.html. 1831-2.