σκώληξ
skṓlēx
G4663 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A worm, specifically a larval form such as a grub or maggot; any soft-bodied, invertebrate creature, especially as found in decaying matter. The term can denote various small, wormlike organisms, but in literary and figurative contexts is frequently applied to larvae that feed on decaying organic material, with particular reference to maggots in contexts of decomposition or putrefaction. Occasionally, the term can be used generally for an earthworm, but its primary association is with decay.
Semantic Range
maggot (larva feeding on decaying matter), grub, earthworm, figurative of decay or corruption
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain; not clearly derived from a known Greek root. Some suggest non-Greek origin or onomatopoeic formation imitating a wriggling motion.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The noun σκώληξ appears rarely in classical Greek and is more frequently found in Hellenistic and Koine sources. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it primarily describes maggots or grubs, especially in contexts involving the decomposition of bodies or putrefaction (cf. Mark 9:44, 46, 48). Its use is almost always connected with death, decay, or impurity, giving it strong overtones of corruption and destruction. This is distinct from the more general σκώληκος/descriptive forms for other types of worms or intestinal parasites. In early Greek literature, similar words are infrequent and usually denote earthworms or generic larvae. English translation tradition usually renders σκώληξ as 'worm'; however, this may obscure its more precise sense of a maggot or grub—an organism specifically associated with decay and the breakdown of flesh, not simply any wormlike creature. The imagery plays a vivid role in Jewish and Greco-Roman depictions of the afterlife, corruption, and ritual impurity. The word is much rarer than other Greek terms for worms (such as ἔλμινς, helmins), and its particular emphasis is on the association with rotting organic matter.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; a grub, maggot or earth-worm:--worm.
Root Family
σκώληξ (skōlēx) — worm, maggot, grub, larva
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4663-01 |
σκώληξ | skolex | N NOM M SG |
worm | maggot | maggot | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences