תּוֹלָע (to.la)
to.la
worm
H:N-M/FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 42 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M/F
Word Overview
The noun tolaʿ primarily denotes a small insect or worm, specifically referring to the female coccus ilicis scale insect. This creature is notable not for its size, but for the vivid red dye extracted from its dried body. In the Hebrew Bible, this single word bridges two distinct concepts: the living organism itself and the precious crimson pigment produced by crushing it.
This dual meaning creates a striking image in key passages. The term appears frequently in Exodus and Leviticus to describe the fine scarlet threads used in the tabernacle’s curtains and priestly garments, symbolizing glory and sacrifice. Yet Isaiah uses the same word for human fragility, describing people as "worms" or maggots (Isaiah 41:14), highlighting their vulnerability before God. The contrast between the humble insect and the rich dye it yields underscores a recurring biblical theme: beauty and atonement emerging from something small and lowly.
Translators often render tolaʿ as "scarlet" when referring to fabric or dye, and "worm" or "maggot" when describing living creatures. This lexical range reminds readers that the same Hebrew word can carry both a sense of degradation and one of royal splendor, depending on context. The sources confirm this usage is consistent across its forty-two occurrences, linking physical humility with spiritual significance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tolaʿ refers to a small scale insect, but its significance in Scripture goes far beyond entomology. When crushed, this tiny creature yields a vivid crimson dye used to color the sacred garments of priests and the curtains of the tabernacle. This dual meaning connects the lowest form of life with the highest expression of worship, showing how God often uses humble origins to create something precious.
In passages like Exodus 25:4, this word appears alongside blue and purple as essential materials for building God’s dwelling place. It reminds us that our own small, fragile moments can be woven into a larger story of grace. Just as the worm’s sacrifice produced royal beauty, your quiet faithfulness may contribute to something far greater than you can see.
Isaiah later uses the same word to describe human vulnerability, calling people worms before the Almighty (Isaiah 41:14). Yet even in that fragility, there is dignity. The Bible does not ignore our smallness; it redeems it. This word invites us to trust that God values what the world overlooks.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 42 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ scarlet stuff of19×
- a worm4×
- the/ worm3×
- [the] scarlet stuff of3×
- scarlet stuff of2×
- worms1×
- worm/ their1×
- the/ worm[s]1×
- scarlet stuff1×
- like <the>/ crimson1×
- in/ [the] scarlet stuff of1×
- crimson1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/תוֹלַ֥עַת13×
- וְ/תוֹלַ֣עַת4×
- תּוֹלַ֥עַת3×
- תוֹלַ֖עַת2×
- תּוֹלַ֣עַת2×
- וְ/תוֹלַ֧עַת2×
- תוֹלָ֔ע1×
- תוֹלָ֑עַת1×
- תוֹלַעְתָּ֞/ם1×
- תּוֹלָעִ֖ים1×
- תּוֹלַ֧עַת1×
- תּוֹלַ֔עַת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 25:4
blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
This verse lists scarlet (tolaʿ) as a primary material for the tabernacle, highlighting its role in creating sacred space.
-
Exodus 26:1
“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall make them with the work of a skillful workman.
Here the word appears in the instructions for the main curtains, showing it was central to the worship environment's design.
-
Exodus 28:5
They shall use the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.
The inclusion of scarlet in Aaron’s garments signifies that this humble dye was deemed worthy for high priestly service.
-
Exodus 39:1
Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
This verse confirms the completion of holy garments using scarlet, linking the material directly to ministering in the holy place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tolaʿ mean in the Bible?
Why is a worm mentioned in sacred contexts?
How is tolaʿ different from other words for red?
Every Occurrence (42 verses across 8 books)
Exodus 27 verses
Notwithstanding they didn’t listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, so it bred worms and became…
Exodus 25:4blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
Exodus 26:1“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with…
Exodus 26:31“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of…
Exodus 26:36“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of…
Exodus 27:16For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen,…
Exodus 28:5They shall use the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.
Exodus 28:6“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
Exodus 28:8The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple,…
Exodus 28:15“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make…
Exodus 28:33On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, all around its hem; with bells of gold…
Exodus 35:6blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
Exodus 35:23Everyone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides,…
Exodus 35:25All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple,…
Exodus 35:35He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and…
Exodus 36:8All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue,…
Exodus 36:35He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful…
Exodus 36:37He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;
Exodus 38:18The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.…
Exodus 38:23With him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an…
Exodus 39:1Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy…
Exodus 39:2He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exodus 39:3They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in with the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and…
Exodus 39:5The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work: of gold, of…
Exodus 39:8He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet,…
Exodus 39:24They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.
Exodus 39:29the sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as Yahweh commanded Moses.