Q: #610. In speaking of Hell, (Mk 9:44,46,48) says it is a place where "the worm dieth not." What does this mean?
A: The phrase “the worm dieth not” is used 3 times in a series of verses found in (Mk 9:42-50), where Jesus gives a warning about what Hell will be like. Jesus took this phrase from an Old Testament Scripture that is found in (Isa 66:24) (the last verse in Isaiah). The verse in Isaiah is as follows:
(Isa 66:24) “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”
First, a little history is needed. The Greek word used for “hell” in (Mk 9:43,45,47) is “Gehenna.” In the time of Jesus, there was a place outside of Jerusalem called the “Valley of Hinnom,” which was the city dump. However, not only was the city trash taken there, but also the corpses of those who were thought unworthy to be buried (i.e. those who were criminals, sinful, evil, unclean). This was a sign of disrespect.
***Note: An idol called Moloch was also placed there, and human sacrifices [mainly children] were made it.
At this place was a constant burning fire, which never went out. This fire would eventually burn everything in the dump, including the corpses. Those “outside” of the dump seeing the bodies burning came to be seen as a picture of Heaven vs Hell (“Gehenna“). (The Valley of Hinnom was also called “Gehenna.”)
Often, bodies thrown in the dump were not burned up for a long period of time. Therefore, they would quickly suffer decay. When a body decays, “maggots” form, which eat away at the flesh. Looking at the Greek word used for “worm” in the verses above, we see it is “skolex.” Strong’s defines it as: “grub, maggot, earthworm – A “skolex” is a worm, specifically that kind which preys upon dead bodies.” (***Note: This word is used nowhere outside of these 3 verses in the New Testament.)
Obviously, once maggots (worms) and fire devoured a body, the maggots would die (either because they were burned up, or their food source was gone).
So, getting to our question, when Jesus is giving His warning about Hell, He tells us two things that will happen to those in it: #1. Their worm does not die, #2. The fire is not quenched. How TERRIFYING this is!
In (Mk 9:43,45,47), Jesus tells us that it would be better to “cut off your hand, cut off your foot, or pluck out your eye if they cause you to sin” rather than to go to this place called Hell. While the bodies that were eaten by maggots, and burned by fire in the “Valley of Hinnom” were corpses, the bodies of those in Hell (or the “Lake of Fire”) will be ALIVE (Mt 13:42,50), for eternity (Mt 25:46)(2 Th 1:9)(Rev 14:10-11).
***Note: As I mention here, in the future, the dead bodies of both believers and unbelievers will be raised from the ground, and reunited with their soul/spirit, which has either been in Heaven or Hell. These raised bodies will be “new” eternal bodies, which will never die (they will be “immortal”). This explains why unbelievers bodies will not be destroyed by “fire” or “maggots.”
So, how can “maggots” and “fire” exist together in Hell? We are not told. A number of scholars believe that “their worm that dieth not” is not literal, but instead, it refers to our “conscience,” and that those in Hell will forever be tormented by remembering the opportunities they had to believe the Gospel, and accept Christ. It is interesting to note that it says “THEIR worm that dieth not.” This seems to indicate that the “worm” will be specific to each individual. This would make sense since each person would have different versions of their missed opportunities. (The “fire” seems universal to all.)
***Note: As I mention here, I personally believe that the primary emotion in Hell may be “anger” (“gnashing of teeth“), rather than sorrow.
Another possible view that came to me as I was writing this study is found in (Acts 12:21-23), and what God did to King Herod.
(Acts 12:21-23)(NKJV) “So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. (22) And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” (23) Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.”
“The MacArthur Study Bible” says of this: “According to Josephus, Herod endured terrible pain for 5 days before he died.” The Greek word used for “worms” here (“skolekobrotos“) is taken from the Greek word used above in Mark. Strong’s gives this as the definition: “diseased with maggots.” (This word is used nowhere else in the NT.)
This view, which would point to “literal” maggots, is pretty much my own thought (I haven’t seen anyone else who has it). But, could what happened to Herod here tie to the “worm that dieth not” in Hell? For a person in Hell, they suffer the excruciating torment and pain of a “fire that is not quenched” on the “outside,” but on the “inside,” they suffer from “maggots” (or “worms”) that never cease (“dieth not”) to eat away at their inner parts.
Does this kind of make you sick? It does me!! It is worth noting that Jesus spoke more about Hell than Heaven while He was on earth. He issued numerous warnings about this place, and how terrible it was. May we all as Christians issue this same warning! This should motivate all of us to increase our efforts to share the Gospel. If we truly “love our neighbor,” we don’t want ANYONE to go to Hell. If you are reading this, and you have never trusted in Jesus to pay for your sins, so that you do not go to this place called Hell, you can go here, and give your life to Jesus right now.