Psalms 22:6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.
The setting
Likely written when David was hiding from King Saul in the wilderness caves of En Gedi, Israel. Exhausted, hunted, feeling abandoned even by his own people who feared associating with him.
The emotion here: crushed and dehumanized, feeling utterly abandoned
The original word
tōla'at (תּוֹלַעַת) — a crimson worm crushed to make red dye, utterly helpless
Why it matters
This psalm was quoted more in the New Testament than any other psalm except Psalm 110
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 22:6
David compares himself to a specific worm - one crushed to make scarlet dye, foreshadowing Christ's blood
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just David complaining, but it's actually a messianic psalm - Jesus quoted verse 1 from the cross, showing this describes His suffering too.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 22:6
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 22:6 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 22:6 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 80% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include suffering, rejection, humiliation. Notable phrases: I am a worm; despised by the people. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Psalms 22:6 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
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