Lexical Definition

‎תּוֹלָע‎ tôwlâʻ (to-law') worm ^H:N-M/F
and (feminine) תּוֹלֵעָה tôwlêʻâh (tolay-aw'); or תּוֹלַעַת tôwlaʻath (to-lah'-ath); or תֹּלַעַת tôlaʻath (tolah'-ath); from ‎יָלַע‎; a maggot (as voracious); specifically (often with ellipsis of ‎שָׁנִי‎)

crimson, scarlet, worm.

• the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the colorfrom it, and cloths dyed therewith

1) worm, scarlet stuff, crimson
1a) worm-the female 'coccus ilicis'
1b) scarlet stuff, crimson, scarlet
1b1) the dye made from the dried body of the female of the worm "coccus ilicis"
2) worm, maggot
2a) worm, grub
2b) the worm "coccus ilicis"
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When the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly and permanently that she would never leave again. The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid stained her body and the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted. What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding His precious blood that He might "bring many sons unto glory" (Heb 2:10)! He died for us, that we might live through him! Ps 22:6 describes such a worm and gives us this picture of Christ. (cf. Isa 1:18) (from page 73, "Biblical Basis for Modern Science", 1985, Baker Book House, by Henry Morris)

See Greek: κόκκινος · κόκκος · σκώληξ

Extended Information

• Also means: to.le.ah (‎ת‎ּ‎ו‎ֹ‎ל‎ֵ‎ע‎ָ‎ה‎ "worm" תּוֹלָע)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. ‎תּוֺלָע‎ noun [masculine] worm, scarlet stuff (dyed with the coccus ilicis, see ‎שָׁנִי‎ Thatcher^{Hast. DB COLOURS}); —

1. worm, only plural ‎תּוֺלָעִים‎ in stale manna Exod 16:20 (P).

2. scarlet stuff, absolute singular ‎תּוֺלָ‎ Isa 1:18 (in sim || ‎שָׁנִים‎; opposed to ‎צֶמֶר‎); token of luxury Lam 4:5.

‎תּוֺלֵעָה‎, ‎תּוֺלַ֫עַת‎₄₀ noun feminine worm; — absolute ‎תּוֺלֵעָה‎ Isa 14:11; Job 25:6 ‎תּוֺלַעַת‎ Isa 41:14 +, ‎תּוֺלָ֑עַת‎ Deut 28:39; Num 19:6 construct ‎תּוֺלַ֫עַת‎ Exod 25:4 +; suffix ‎תּוֺלַעְתָּם‎ Isa 66:24 —

1. worm, grub, vine-weevil Jonah 4:7; Deut 28:39 (collective); devouring the dead Isa 14:11 (collective: || ‎רִמָּה‎), Isa 66:24 (collective) symbol of insignificance Isa 41:14; Job 25:6 (|| ‎רִמָּה‎), Ps 22:7*.

2. elsewhere (P) specif + ‎שָׁנִי‎ (q. v.), of the coccus ilicis yielding scarlet colour: ‎׳‎‎שְׁנִי (הַ)תּ‎ Lev 14:4; Lev 14:6; Lev 14:49; Lev 14:51; Lev 14:52; Num 19:6 of crimson stuff ‎שָׁנִי‎ ‎׳‎‎בֶּגֶד ת‎ Num 4:8 usually ‎תְּכֵלָת וְאַרְגָּמָן‎ ‎׳‎‎(הַ)שָּׁנִי וגו‎ ‎׳‎‎שְׁנִ‎ Exod 25:4; Exod 26:1 + 24 t. Exodus.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References