The reference to worms in the Bible is usually not to earthworms but to these juvenile flies;?

Question

a) Tsetse flies;
b) Maggots;
c) Caterpillars.

Answer 1

B) Maggots.

Answer 2

Maggots, caterpillars, and almost any other crawling thing.
The English at the Time of the Tudors and the Stewarts had nothing to explain rot or decay, but maggots are almost always eating rotting stuff. They thought of the word worm not just as the little crawling things but also as the spirit of the rot. It was magical thinking.
It is hard to understand that they really did have a totally different world view that was ruled and bound with superstition.

Answer 3

The Bible ( King James Version) is using a vague term in early 17th century English to represent what was probably a fairly vague term in whatever it was compiled from.

Specifically, the word "worm" could mean anything that crawled close to the ground on short, splayed or no legs. This could include maggots, caterpillars, snakes, lizards and earthworms. It also included the mythical dragon.

Sometimes the Bible is more specific and uses the term "serpent" which we now interpret as meaning "snake".

Likewise "turtle" meant "turtledove" and "bird" could mean anything that flew, including insects and bats.

We tend to be more precise today mainly because more animals are known.

Answer 4

Oh senseless man, who cannot possibly make a worm, and yet will make Gods by dozens.
— Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, (1533-1592)

Answer 5

b. maggots

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