Psalm 22:6
New International Version
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

New Living Translation
But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all!

English Standard Version
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

Berean Standard Bible
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.

King James Bible
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

New King James Version
But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

New American Standard Bible
But I am a worm and not a person, A disgrace of mankind and despised by the people.

NASB 1995
But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people.

NASB 1977
But I am a worm, and not a man, A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

Legacy Standard Bible
But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people.

Amplified Bible
But I am [treated as] a worm [insignificant and powerless] and not a man; I am the scorn of men and despised by the people.

Christian Standard Bible
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by people.

American Standard Version
But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people.

Contemporary English Version
But I am merely a worm, far less than human, and I am hated and rejected by people everywhere.

English Revised Version
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Yet, I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned by humanity and despised by people.

Good News Translation
But I am no longer a human being; I am a worm, despised and scorned by everyone!

International Standard Version
But as for me, I am only a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.

Majority Standard Bible
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.

NET Bible
But I am a worm, not a man; people insult me and despise me.

New Heart English Bible
But I am a worm, and no man; scorned by people and despised by the people.

Webster's Bible Translation
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

World English Bible
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I [am] a worm, and no man, "" A reproach of man, and despised of the people.

Young's Literal Translation
And I am a worm, and no man, A reproach of man, and despised of the people.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I a worm and not a man; a reproach of man, and the people despised me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But I am a worm, and no man: the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But I am a worm and not a man: a disgrace among men, and an outcast of the people.

New American Bible
But I am a worm, not a man, scorned by men, despised by the people.

New Revised Standard Version
But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But I am a worm, and not a man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I am a worm and not a man; a reproach of the children of men and despised of the people.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But I am a worm, and not a man; a reproach of men, and scorn of the people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Psalm of the Cross
5They cried out to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disappointed. 6But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. 7All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:…

Cross References
Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Matthew 27:39-44
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads / and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” / In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, ...

Mark 15:29-32
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, / come down from the cross and save Yourself!” / In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! ...

Luke 23:35-39
The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” / The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine. / “If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!” ...

John 1:10-11
He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. / He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

John 15:18-25
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. ...

Philippians 2:7-8
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. / And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. / Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

1 Peter 2:23
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Job 25:6
how much less man, who is but a maggot, and the son of man, who is but a worm!”

Isaiah 41:14
Do not fear, O Jacob, you worm, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 49:7
Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Isaiah 52:14
Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—

Lamentations 3:30
Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with reproach.


Treasury of Scripture

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

I am

Job 25:6
How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

Isaiah 41:14
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

a reproach

Psalm 31:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

Psalm 69:7-12,19,20
Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face…

Psalm 88:8
Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

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Psalm 22
1. David complains in great discouragement
9. He prays in great distress
23. He praises God














But I am a worm and not a man
This phrase begins with a profound expression of humility and suffering. The Hebrew word for "worm" here is "תּוֹלַעַת" (tola'at), which often refers to a maggot or a lowly creature. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a worm was seen as the lowest form of life, emphasizing the psalmist's feeling of being despised and insignificant. This self-description is a stark contrast to the dignity of being made in the image of God, highlighting the depth of the psalmist's anguish. Historically, this verse is understood as a messianic prophecy, pointing to the suffering of Christ, who, despite His divine nature, was treated with utter contempt during His crucifixion.

scorned by men and despised by the people
The words "scorned" and "despised" reflect a deep rejection and disdain from others. The Hebrew root for "scorned" is "חָרַף" (charaph), which conveys the idea of being taunted or mocked. "Despised" comes from the Hebrew "בָּזָה" (bazah), meaning to hold in contempt or to consider worthless. This dual expression of rejection underscores the social and emotional isolation experienced by the psalmist. In the broader biblical narrative, this verse foreshadows the rejection of Jesus by the very people He came to save, as seen in the Gospels. The historical context of Israel's own experiences of being scorned by surrounding nations also resonates here, as the psalmist identifies with the collective suffering of God's people. This verse invites believers to reflect on the humility and sacrifice of Christ, who bore such scorn for the sake of humanity's redemption.

(6) Worm.--An indication of extreme degradation and helplessness. (Comp. Isaiah 41:14.)

Verse 6. - But I am a worm, and no man (comp. Job 25:6; Isaiah 41:14). The worm is a symbol of extreme weakness and helplessness - it is naturally despised, derided, trodden upon. A reproach of men, and despised of the people (Comp. Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 53:3; and for the fulfilment, see Matthew 27:39). How deeply Christ was "despised of the people" appeared most evidently when they expressed their desire that, instead of him, a murderer should be granted to them (Acts 3:14).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But I
וְאָנֹכִ֣י (wə·’ā·nō·ḵî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

am a worm
תוֹלַ֣עַת (ṯō·w·la·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8438: The crimson-grub, of the color, from it, cloths dyed therewith

and not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

a man,
אִ֑ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

scorned
חֶרְפַּ֥ת (ḥer·paṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2781: Contumely, disgrace, the pudenda

by men
אָ֝דָ֗ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

and despised
וּבְז֥וּי (ū·ḇə·zui)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular construct
Strong's 959: To disesteem

by the people.
עָֽם׃ (‘ām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT Poetry: Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm and no (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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