The verse in question, Mark 9:48, reads “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” This is part of a larger passage where Jesus is teaching about hell and the final judgment of sinners who refuse to repent and turn to God. The “worm” mentioned here has been the source of much discussion and interpretation over the centuries.
There are a few key things to understand about this verse:
- It’s quoting Isaiah 66:24 which uses similar imagery of worms and unquenchable fire to describe the fate of the wicked. So Jesus is drawing on an Old Testament prophetic tradition.
- “Worm” is probably metaphorical language, not a literal worm. The Greek word is σκώληξ (skōlēx) which can mean worm, but was often used figuratively.
- The worm is paired with unquenchable fire, indicating the “worm” refers to some form of torment or destruction.
- It “does not die” which emphasizes the eternal nature of this punishment and torment.
There are a few common interpretations of what exactly this metaphorical “undying worm” represents:
Conscience gnawed with guilt
Some see the worm as representing an internal anguish and gnawing of conscience that plague the unrepentant. The idea is that sinful people are tormented by guilt and regret over their evil deeds, and this inner distress never goes away because they refuse to repent. This view sees the worm not as something external, but internal and psychological – the sinner’s own realization of his or her guilt.
Remorse, memory, shame
Similar to the gnawing conscience view, some see the undying worm as a metaphor for ongoing feelings of remorse, regret, shame, and memory of one’s sins. The unrepentant carry the burden and pain of their guilt eternally. This is seen to imply that even unbelievers have an innate sense of right and wrong and their conscience will pain them forever in hell.
Eternal punishment by God
Other interpreters see the worm as symbolic of the eternal punishment inflicted on sinners by God in hell. Just as a worm or maggot consumes and feeds on decaying matter, the undying worm represents how unrepentant sinners will be ceaselessly consumed by their punishment. The essence is that of eternal destruction and torment inflicted externally as a divine judgment.
Decay of the dead body
A number of scholars see the worm as referring literally to the decomposition and decay of dead bodies. Bodies were often seen to decay into worms in ancient Jewish culture. The undying worm, in this view, represents how the sinner’s body will decomposes endlessly in hell, constantly eaten by worms, with no escape. This emphasizes the total bodily destruction of hell.
A demon or evil spirit
Some ancient interpreters took the worm metaphorically, but thought it referred to a demon or evil spirit that torments the unbeliever in hell. Something that continually gnaws, hurts, and tortures the person from without. So the undying worm is seen as a sort of personal evil spirit or demon that inflicts suffering on the individual.
A guilty, accusing conscience
Building on some of the views above, other interpreters suggest the undying worm represents a guilty conscience that accuses the unrepentant sinner before God. Just as worms are parasites that slowly eat away their host, so the sinner’s own conscience will destroy them emotionally and spiritually. The conscience acts as witness against the person to convict them of their guilt and wrongdoing.
There are good biblical reasons to favor the figurative views of the worm rather than a literal worm:
- Parallels to other verses like Isaiah 51:8 that use the worm metaphorically for destruction.
- The pairing of worm and fire indicates this is metaphorical imagery.
- The unnatural descriptions of a worm that doesn’t die.
- No other place describes literal worms in hell.
The exact metaphorical meaning depends on one’s view of the nature of hell and the afterlife. Those who see hell as eternal conscious torment tend to favor the gnawing conscience or remorse views. Those who see hell as annihilation favor the idea of decay or destruction. In either case, the worm powerfully conveys the ongoing distress and judgment unbelievers face after death.
Beyond exactly what the worm represents, the key truth of this verse remains: Jesus takes hell very seriously, and warns repeatedly of its horrors. Only those who turn to Him in repentance and faith will avoid the fate of the undying worm and unquenchable fire.
Other key points about the worm and hell include:
- The fiery worm underscores that hell is a place of anguish, pain, and suffering for the unrepentant.
- Sinners will carry their guilt with them eternally unless they lay their sins at Jesus’ feet.
- Hell involves some sort of attack or distress inflicted on a person – whether internal or external.
- Hell is eternal and irreversible; the worm will never fully consume or die.
- Jesus could have said Gehenna or Hades, but vividly chose worm language to shock people.
- This passage reveals the necessity of repentance to escape coming judgment and torment.
The undying worm remains a disturbing and often confusing image. But it points unambiguously to an eternal hell that should instill holy fear and turn unbelievers to urgently seek salvation in Christ. While the exact nature of the worm is debated, the reality of eternal punishment for the unrepentant is clear. This should spur us Christians to proclaim the Gospel with boldness and compassion to help rescue souls bound for this awful fate.