### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word רִמָּה (rimmâh), Strong's number `{{H7415}}`, primarily denotes a "maggot" or "worm." Its etymological root is linked to רָמַם (ramam) or רוּם (rum), which typically signify "to be high" or "to rise." However, in the context of *rimmâh*, the connection is understood as "in the sense of breeding," implying rapid multiplication or a teeming rise in numbers, characteristic of larvae in decaying matter. Thus, the core meaning is a creature of decay and putrefaction. Its semantic range is quite narrow, focusing on this specific type of worm, used both literally to describe biological decomposition and figuratively to convey extreme lowliness, vulnerability, or the ultimate degradation of the proud.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term *rimmâh* appears in several Old Testament passages, predominantly in the book of Job and Isaiah, consistently highlighting themes of mortality, decay, and judgment.
In Job, *rimmâh* is used literally to describe the physical decomposition of the human body, emphasizing human frailty and the transient nature of life:
* In [[Job 7:5]], Job laments, "My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken and festering." Here, *rimmâh* depicts the immediate and repulsive reality of physical decay, a stark image of human suffering and vulnerability.
* [[Job 17:14]] presents a poignant personification: "I say to corruption, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother and my sister.'" This verse underscores Job's profound identification with the grave and the process of decay, viewing *rimmâh* as an inescapable part of his ultimate destiny.
* [[Job 21:26]] states, "They lie down alike in the dust, and worms cover them," illustrating the universal fate of humanity, regardless of status or wealth.
* [[Job 24:20]] describes the ultimate oblivion of the wicked: "The womb forgets him; the worm feeds sweetly on him; he is no longer remembered." Here, *rimmâh* symbolizes the complete and final obliteration of memory and existence in death.
In Isaiah, *rimmâh* takes on a more figurative and eschatological dimension:
* [[Isaiah 14:11]], in a taunt against the fallen king of Babylon, declares, "Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are spread beneath you, and worms cover you." This passage employs *rimmâh* as a powerful image of ultimate humiliation and degradation, where splendor is replaced by the vilest form of decay.
* Most significantly, [[Isaiah 66:24]] uses *rimmâh* in a prophetic context of divine judgment: "And they shall go out and look at the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." This is a profound and terrifying image, where the "undying worm" represents perpetual, unending decay and torment for the unrighteous, a vivid metaphor for eternal judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **תּוֹלַעַת (tôla‘at)** `{{H8438}}`: Also translated as "worm," this term often refers to the crimson worm, used for dyes, or other types of worms. While both *rimmâh* and *tôla‘at* can denote lowliness (e.g., [[Psalm 22:6]] "I am a worm and no man," using *tôla‘at*), *rimmâh* specifically emphasizes the aspect of larvae of decay and putrefaction.
* **עָפָר (ʿāpār)** `{{H6083}}`: "Dust." Frequently paired with *rimmâh* in contexts of mortality and the grave (e.g., [[Job 7:5]], [[Job 21:26]]). It represents the base material from which humanity was formed and to which it inevitably returns.
* **שְׁאוֹל (Sheʾol)** `{{H7585}}`: "Sheol," the grave, the underworld. This is the realm where the body succumbs to the activity of *rimmâh*.
* **Concepts:** Mortality, corruption, decay, humility, divine judgment, the transient nature of human glory, and the ultimate end of all flesh.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *rimmâh* is multifaceted, serving as a potent symbol within biblical anthropology and eschatology:
* **Human Frailty and Mortality:** *Rimmâh* powerfully underscores the transient and perishable nature of human life. It serves as a stark reminder that all flesh, regardless of earthly status, is subject to decay and returns to dust. This emphasizes humanity's creatureliness and inherent dependence on God, contrasting sharply with any human attempt at self-exaltation.
* **Consequence of Sin and Divine Judgment:** In its most chilling application, particularly in [[Isaiah 66:24]], *rimmâh* becomes a vivid metaphor for the unending, abhorrent consequences of rebellion against God. The image of the "undying worm" signifies a perpetual state of decay, torment, and divine wrath for the unrighteous. This concept profoundly influenced later Jewish and Christian eschatological thought, echoed in the New Testament's descriptions of hell (e.g., [[Mark 9:48]]).
* **Humiliation of Pride:** As seen in the downfall of the king of Babylon ([[Isaiah 14:11]]), *rimmâh* illustrates the ultimate futility of human pride and worldly glory. God brings down the high and mighty to the lowest state of decay, demonstrating His sovereignty over all human endeavors and the ephemeral nature of earthly power.
* **Contrast with Divine Incorruptibility:** The perishable nature of humanity, symbolized by *rimmâh*, stands in stark contrast to the eternal, unchanging, and incorruptible nature of God. This highlights the vast chasm between the Creator and His creation, underscoring the necessity of divine grace for humanity's hope beyond the grave.
### Summary
The Hebrew word רִמָּה (rimmâh, `{{H7415}}`) primarily denotes a "maggot" or "worm," specifically one associated with decay and putrefaction, deriving from a root that suggests rapid breeding. Its biblical occurrences, particularly in the book of Job, emphasize the universal reality of human mortality, physical decay, and the ultimate return to dust, serving as a potent symbol of human frailty and the transient nature of life. In Isaiah, *rimmâh* takes on a profound figurative and eschatological meaning, representing the utter humiliation of human pride and, most significantly, the unending, abhorrent consequences of divine judgment upon the wicked. Theologically, *rimmâh* underscores the brevity and vulnerability of human existence, the inevitability of death, and the grim reality of divine retribution for sin, contrasting sharply with God's eternal and incorruptible nature.
TRV