how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The comparison to a "maggot" and a "worm" isn't just about being small, but about a deep corruption and utter powerlessness. It highlights that humanity, apart from God, is inherently decaying and groveling, making any claim of self-sufficiency or right to challenge God utterly absurd.
how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Bildad the Shuhite is concluding his final speech, and instead of directly addressing Job's arguments, he makes a sweeping statement about humanity's inherent sinfulness and insignificance before God. He argues that if even the celestial bodies are imperfect in God's sight, how much less can man, who is like a corruptible maggot and a weak worm, stand righteous. This abrupt shift and broad condemnation mark the end of Bildad's attempts to refute Job, leaving Job to respond to these general accusations.
Ever felt insignificant? This verse uses shockingly graphic language to describe humanity. What does it really mean to be a 'worm' in God's eyes?
Bildad’s final word paints a stark picture of humanity. He calls man not just a 'worm,' but uses two different Hebrew words to emphasize our weakness and corruption.
A Crawling Creature
The first word implies a worm that breeds in rottenness and decay. It speaks to our inherent sinfulness and impurity. We are born with a bent toward sin, a kind of 'spiritual putridity' that separates us from a holy God.
Lowly and Weak
The second word describes a crawling worm, highlighting our frailty and insignificance. We are feeble, easily crushed, and our existence is low to the ground, so to speak. Compared to the vastness and power of God, we are utterly powerless.
If we're so lowly, why would God ever notice us, let alone enter into a relationship with us? This verse, though harsh, points to an even more astonishing truth.
While Bildad's words are meant to humble man and highlight his distance from God, they also serve as a backdrop for God's incredible grace.
God's Amazing Condescension
If even the greatest and best of humans are no more than worms in God's sight, then His willingness to engage with us is nothing short of miraculous. The fact that God would 'take such worms into covenant and communion with himself' is the ultimate expression of His love and humility.
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Christ, The True Worm
Jesus himself, in his humanity, willingly became like us. He humbled himself, taking on our frail, corruptible nature, even being called a 'worm' and 'no man' in his suffering (Psalm 22:6). His sacrifice bridges the vast gap between God's holiness and our sinfulness.
Understand the original words
'enosh · Hebrew Noun
A term referring to humanity as a whole, highlighting human frailty, mortality, and dependence upon God. It emphasizes the contrast between the creature's lowliness and the Creator's majesty.
rimmah · Hebrew Noun
The larval stage of an insect, often found in decaying matter; used metaphorically in Scripture to denote extreme insignificance, worthlessness, or lowliness in the presence of God's holiness.
ben-'adam · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A common Hebrew idiom used to identify an individual as a human being; it stresses the mortal and earthly nature of humanity, frequently used in parallel with "man" to emphasize human limitation and vulnerability.
tole'ah · Hebrew Noun
A small, crawling creature often associated with the earth, weakness, and vulnerability; biblically, it serves as a vivid metaphor for the insignificance of humanity compared to the glory and power of the Creator.
This psalm echoes Job's sentiment, questioning 'What is man that you are mindful of him?' and highlighting his lowliness in the grand scheme of creation.
Psalm 22:6The Psalmist directly quotes Job's imagery, describing himself as 'a worm and not a man,' emphasizing profound suffering and societal rejection.
Isaiah 41:14This prophetic passage also uses the imagery of a worm to declare God's power over the seemingly insignificant nation of Israel, calling them to trust Him.
Job 4:19Earlier in the book, Job himself uses similar language to describe humanity's fragility, dwelling in houses of clay and being crushed easily, reinforcing the theme of human weakness before God.
clarkeJob 25:6: "How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?"
How much less man, that is a worm? - Or as the Targum - "How much more man, who in his life is a reptile; and the son of man, who in his death is a worm." Almost all the versions read, "Truly man is corruption, and the son of man a worm." The original is degradingly expressive: "Even because אנוש enosh, miserable man, is רמה rimmah, a crawling worm; and the son of Adam, who is תולעה toleah, a worm, or rather…
wesleyJob 25:6: "How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?"
25:6 Worm - Mean, and vile, and impotent; proceeding from corruption, and returning to it. The son - For miserable man in the last branch he here puts the son of any man, to shew that this is true even of the greatest and best of men. Let us then wonder at the condescension of God, in taking such worms into covenant and communion with himself!
The comparison to a "maggot" and a "worm" isn't just about being small, but about a deep corruption and utter powerlessness. It highlights that humanity, apart from God, is inherently decaying and groveling, making any claim of self-sufficiency or right to challenge God utterly absurd.
Bildad the Shuhite is concluding his final speech, and instead of directly addressing Job's arguments, he makes a sweeping statement about humanity's inherent sinfulness and insignificance before God. He argues that if even the celestial bodies are imperfect in God's sight, how much less can man, who is like a corruptible maggot and a weak worm, stand righteous. This abrupt shift and broad condemnation mark the end of Bildad's attempts to refute Job, leaving Job to respond to these general accusations.
Bildad the Shuhite is concluding his final speech, and instead of directly addressing Job's arguments, he makes a sweeping statement about humanity's inherent sinfulness and insignificance before God. He argues that if even the celestial bodies are imperfect in God's sight, how much less can man, who is like a corruptible maggot and a weak worm, stand righteous. This abrupt shift and broad condemnation mark the end of Bildad's attempts to refute Job, leaving Job to respond to these general accusations.
"how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!”" — The comparison to a "maggot" and a "worm" isn't just about being small, but about a deep corruption and utter powerlessness. It highlights that humanity, apart from God, is inherently decaying and gr…
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Last reviewed October 2026