Psalm 22 is a prophecy about the suffering the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would endure at the hands of men.  So, the real author of the Psalm is Jesus Christ Himself.  In verse 6 He says, “I am a worm”.  Why did Jesus say this of Himself?  What did He mean by it?

Psa 22:6 But I am a worm [tolaw], and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

The Hebrew word translated worm is tolaw.  It is a crimson grub.  This word is often translated as scarlet in the Old Testament, because a red dye was extracted from the worm.  This dye was used for the curtains of the tabernacle.

Exo 26:1  “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet [tolaw] thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them.

The Crimson Worm (whose scientific name is coccus ilicis) looks more like a grub than a worm.  Its life-cycle reveals a hidden meaning that points us to sacrifice of Jesus.

When the female worm is ready to lay her eggs (which happens only once in her life), she climbs up a tree or fence and attaches herself to it.  She particularly likes a specific type of oak tree.  Once the worm’s body attached to the wood, a hard crimson shell forms.  The shell is so hard and so secured to the wood that it can only be removed by tearing apart the body which would kill the worm. 

Under her protective shell, the female Crimson Worm lays her eggs under her body.  When her larvae hatch they remain under her protective shell and feed on the living body of the mother worm for three days.  Not only does the mother’s body give protection for her babies, but it also provides them with food.  The babies feed on the LIVING body of the mother.  Then the mother worm dies, and her body excretes a crimson or scarlet dye that stains both the wood to which she is attached and her baby worms.  They remain crimson coloured for their entire life.  On day four, body of the mother worm loses its crimson colour and turns into a snow-white wax which falls to the ground like snow.

Isa 1:18  “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

With this understanding of the life cycle of the tolaw, the crimson worm, we can see several ways in which Jesus was a “Crimson Worm”.

1) Just as the mother worm attaches herself to the tree or fence, Jesus willingly allowed himself to be hung on a tree or cross.

Php 2:8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

2) Just as the mother worm, when crushed, excretes a scarlet dye that covers the baby worms and stains them, Jesus was bruised for our iniquities.

Isa 53:5  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

His scourging and death brought forth His scarlet blood that both washes away our sins and marks us as His own. 

3) Just as the baby worm is dependent on the mother worm for the crimson dye to mark it, a Christian depends on the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, to receive new life and be marked as His own.

Mat 26:27  Then He [Jesus] took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
Mat 26:28  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

1Pe 1:18  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
1Pe 1:19  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

4) Just as the baby worm is dependent on the mother worm to give it life, a Christian depends on Jesus for spiritual nourishment.

Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
Joh 6:54  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55  For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56  He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

This is why Jesus said of Himself, “I am a worm”.