Psalms 22:6 Meaning and Explanation
“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist contrasts ancestral faith with present humiliation and shame.
The Context of Psalms 22:6
A sharp turn to the psalmist's present state of humiliation and shame.
What Does Psalms 22:6 Mean?
The descent is startling: from ancestral heroes to 'a worm.' The psalmist has become subhuman in the eyes of others—an object of contempt, cut off from human dignity. 'No man' signals the psalmist's isolation: no one identifies with them, no one stands with them. The weight of collective scorn multiplies the suffering of the individual.
This self-description is not self-pity but a cry of desperation. The psalmist is describing social death and psychological devastation. When combined with God's apparent silence (verses 1–2), this creates a picture of utter abandonment—from heaven and from earth.
Psalms 22:6 in the Original Language
tola (תוֹלַע), 'worm' — literally the crimson worm, but here used metaphorically for worthlessness and degradation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 22:6
What does Psalms 22:6 mean?
The psalmist contrasts ancestral faith with present humiliation and shame.
What is the context of Psalms 22:6?
A sharp turn to the psalmist's present state of humiliation and shame.