Psalm 22 (21):7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Translation from English, likely derived from the original Latin. I am a worm, not a man. This statement I now make not on behalf of Adam, but personally, as Jesus Christ, who was conceived without human seed in the flesh, and who could have been a man elevated above all others, so that even the pride of humanity might find a worthy reflection in my humility. I have been scorned by humanity and held in contempt by the people. In what depth of humility have I become a reproach to mankind, that the phrase 'you are his disciple' (John 9:28) is uttered as a disgraceful insult, causing me to be rejected by the multitude.

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Great and small. So immense is He, yet so insignificant— a worm, not a man— though it is He who fashioned mankind.

Yet I am a worm and not a man. He instructs us in humility, particularly to those who approach the Lord. It reflects the scorn of humanity and the degradation suffered by individuals. The Evangelist clearly indicates that this was realized in Him during His crucifixion, when those who walked by shook their heads at Him and mocked Him, saying, “But if you are the Son of God, … save yourself” (Matt. 27:40; Mark 15:30).

The Spirit compared Him to a worm, as He was conceived without a mother’s womb.

He is likened to a worm, enduring His suffering on the Cross. In His humility, He chose to remain upon that tree, embodying the essence of a faithful servant.

I felt like a worm, seemingly insignificant and a target of mockery. Some interpret the image of the worm as a reference to the virgin birth, since a worm does not reproduce through mating. However, I believe that the mention of the worm primarily signifies humiliation. This notion is supported by the words found in verse 8: All who see me deride me; they curl their lips and shake their heads. Verse 9 continues: He trusted in the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him, for He delights in him.

Given that Psalm 21 distinctly addresses the Lord, how should we interpret the phrase, "I am a worm and not a man" (Psalm 21:7)? Our Lord Jesus Christ, due to His profound love for humanity, was likened to a worm. Just as a worm is brought forth without the act of union, so too was the Lord conceived without human seed. The devil, in his malice, consumed Christ's flesh like a worm, attempting to assail His divinity. Furthermore, He stands as a worm among all His adversaries, as those with wisdom are swiftly revealed, while the foolish are exposed. He also becomes a worm within us whenever we transgress, for at those moments, He pricks our conscience and brings forth our guilt.

But I am a worm, and not a man. Theodoret explains that these words were uttered by the Lord who chooses to humble and diminish Himself. Even David, despite being both prophet and king, refers to himself in II Samuel as a dead dog. If the sinless Jesus can adopt such humility, what should we, beings marred by sin and deserving of all shame, claim about ourselves? Some theologians, including the Divine Dionysius the Areopagite and his commentator the Theotokos Maximus, suggest that the Lord referred to Himself as a worm due to His miraculous birth: just as a worm is born in the earth without seed after the rain, so Christ was conceived without seed when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Virgin. Consequently, Christ is identified as a worm for this reason.

As the divine poet David declared, "the worm" signifies our experience; based on the enduring nature of the worm—which, though cut, does not perish—it stands apart from any union that might come from the Most Holy Virgin Mary, who was conceived without sin. For those who oppose, this worm symbolizes perpetual anguish, relentlessly tormenting and consuming them.

Thus, as David, His youthful servant, proclaimed, "I am a worm and not a man." Just as a worm emerges from the earth in purity and animates life, similarly, I too became incarnate from the Most Holy Virgin, without any impurity or mingling with man, assuming humanity while remaining fully God.

It is to be expected that these words were spoken and came to pass during our Savior's ordeal. He continues to be viewed with disdain by those who have not yet embraced faith in Him.

He does not protest against God or express grievances as if he had been wronged; instead, in his sorrow, he refers to himself as a worm and not a man. At first glance, these words may seem to indicate a sense of weakness or even spiritual fatigue. However, a closer examination of the surrounding verses reveals that he derives hope from recognizing his dire circumstances. He reasons that it is implausible for God to ever neglect a soul in suffering. If the Lord shows compassion to those experiencing moderate trials, how could He abandon His servant who is engulfed in the deepest despair? This teaches us that even the greatest of God’s servants, like David, have endured severe trials, reaching a state where they felt profoundly humiliated.

The worm symbolizes Christ, reflecting his humility, as he was battered and scorned by the wicked Jews, crushed underfoot as a worm, for they deemed him worthless and forced him to be counted as nothing. Additionally, the worm represents the ineffable birth of Christ: just as the worm emerges from the earth without seed, Christ, the Savior, is conceived by the Holy Spirit without seed and comes forth from the Holy Immaculate Virgin. He is not merely a man; he is also God, the eternal Word. However, the ungodly Jews ridiculed Christ, the Savior, asserting, ‘He saved others, can He not save Himself?’ (Mark 15:31).