The scarlet worm, or tola (Coccus ilicis), is a scale insect in the Middle East known for producing a brilliant red dye used historically for priestly garments and tabernacle textiles, symbolizing sacrifice and purification, with its unique life cycle (mother’s self-sacrifice for young, turning white after death) often interpreted as a powerful Christian allegory for Jesus’s crucifixion and redemption, appearing in biblical texts like Psalm 22.

We used Google to ask the following :Date: 01-01-2026 – query: ‘scarlet worm’
‘Below we display the search results including ( if applicable ) our mark-ups in  ‘green italics‘

AI Results : 

The scarlet worm, or tola (Coccus ilicis), is a scale insect in the Middle East known for producing a brilliant red dye used historically for priestly garments and tabernacle textiles, symbolizing sacrifice and purification, with its unique life cycle (mother’s self-sacrifice for young, turning white after death) often interpreted as a powerful Christian allegory for Jesus’s crucifixion and redemption, appearing in biblical texts like Psalm 22.

Biological & Historical Significance

Source of Dye: The dye comes from the dried bodies of the female insects, which adhere to oak trees.
Hebrew Word: The Hebrew word tola (or towla) means both “scarlet” and “worm,” linking the color to the insect.
Usage: Used in ancient Israel for coloring priestly garments, the veil, and parts of the Tabernacle, as noted in the Old Testament.

Christian Allegory (The Gospel in the Worm)

Life Cycle: The female attaches to a tree, forms a protective shell, lays eggs, and nourishes the young with her body.
Sacrifice: After three days, the mother’s body hardens and turns white, releasing a red fluid that stains the offspring and the tree.
Symbolism: This cycle is seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus:
The worm’s self-sacrifice mirrors Christ’s death.
The red dye symbolizes His blood and sin.
The white, waxy remains symbolize purification and new life through Him, as in “scarlet sins can become white as snow”.

Biblical Link: This imagery connects to Psalm 22, where the Messiah describes Himself as a lowly “worm” (tola), as cited by Jesus on the cross.

We have reviewed this Ai response and it appears in line with our understanding, which is limited to the study we have done over the years and we are not experts.  We are learning still as well always.

Let’s do a little ‘digging’…

The word used by David of Messiah in Psalm 22 was not the ‘common’ word for worm (rimmâh) which would have been more like a common maggot here: 

Strong’s Definitions 

רִמָּה rimmâh, rim-maw’; from H7426 in the sense of breeding (compare H7311); a maggot (as rapidly bred), literally or figuratively:—worm.

———However, when he spoke of the messiah He spoke of the tôwlâʻ the scarlet or crimson worm : 

Strong’s Definitions

תּוֹלָע tôwlâʻ, to-law’; and (feminine) תּוֹלֵעָה tôwlêʻâh; or תּוֹלַעַת tôwlaʻath; or תֹּלַעַת tôlaʻath; from H3216; a maggot (as voracious); specifically (often with ellipsis of H8144) the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the color from it, and cloths dyed therewith:—crimson, scarlet, worm

Psa 22:1 KJV – [[To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.]] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?
Psa 22:2 KJV – O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
Psa 22:3 KJV – But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Psa 22:4 KJV – Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Psa 22:5 KJV – They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
Psa 22:6 KJV – But I [am] a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
Psa 22:7 KJV – All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying],
Psa 22:8 KJV – He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Psa 22:9 KJV – But thou [art] he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope [when I was] upon my mother’s breasts.
Psa 22:10 KJV – I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou [art] my God from my mother’s belly.
Psa 22:11 KJV – Be not far from me; for trouble [is] near; for [there is] none to help.
Psa 22:12 KJV – Many bulls have compassed me: strong [bulls] of Bashan have beset me round.
Psa 22:13 KJV – They gaped upon me [with] their mouths, [as] a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psa 22:14 KJV – I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Psa 22:15 KJV – My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psa 22:16 KJV – For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17 KJV – I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 KJV – They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psa 22:19 KJV – But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Psa 22:20 KJV – Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
Psa 22:21 KJV – Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
Psa 22:22 KJV – I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Psa 22:23 KJV – Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
Psa 22:24 KJV – For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
Psa 22:25 KJV – My praise [shall be] of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
Psa 22:26 KJV – The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
Psa 22:27 KJV – All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
Psa 22:28 KJV – For the kingdom [is] the LORD’S: and he [is] the governor among the nations.
Psa 22:29 KJV – All [they that be] fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
Psa 22:30 KJV – A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
Psa 22:31 KJV – They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done [this].