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Strong’s Greek 4663 appears three times in the New Testament, all in one passage (Mark 9:44, 46, 48). The word designates the “worm” cited by Jesus in His warning about Gehenna. The image draws on Old Testament language to underscore the horror and permanence of final judgment.

Biblical Context:Mark 9:42–50

WithinMark 9 Jesus exhorts His disciples to radical holiness. Using graphic contrasts, He teaches that nothing—not even a hand, foot, or eye—should be spared if it causes sin. The repeated clause “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48) intensifies the warning. By repeating the phrase three times (verses 44, 46, 48), Mark highlights both certainty and emphasis in Christ’s words.

Old Testament Background

The phrase originates inIsaiah 66:24, where rebellious people meet a ghastly end: “Their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched”. In Isaiah, the scene unfolds at the close of history, outside the New Jerusalem, depicting perpetual disgrace rather than simple annihilation. Jewish tradition later associated this setting with the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna), a refuse dump south of Jerusalem where fires smoldered continuously. By invoking Isaiah, Jesus affirms prophetic continuity, asserting that the fate of the wicked is eternal and conscious.

Theological Significance

1. Perpetuity of Judgment

The worm’s undying nature alongside unquenchable fire conveys unending punishment. Both images emphasize that judgment is neither momentary nor symbolic but everlasting.

2. Bodily Reality

Jesus speaks of the worm gnawing at those who enter Gehenna “with two hands” or “with two feet,” indicating a resurrection unto judgment (Daniel 12:2;John 5:29). Thus, eternal destiny involves the whole person, body and soul.

3. Divine Justice and Holiness

The natural revulsion toward decay underscores God’s unwavering justice. Sin, left unchecked, culminates in corruption. The worm serves as a vivid marker of that corruption, while the unquenchable fire underscores God’s consuming holiness.

Relation to New Testament Teaching

Other passages affirm eternal punishment without employing the specific term:

•Matthew 25:46 — “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
•2 Thessalonians 1:9 — “They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord.”

By using imagery familiar to His audience, Jesus reinforces a broader New Testament doctrine: judgment is real, personal, and irreversible.

Historical Reception

Early church fathers (e.g., Ignatius, Justin Martyr) readMark 9 literally: the worm figures the ceaseless torment of the impenitent. Medieval theologians, following Augustine, interpreted it both physically and spiritually—the worm as conscience that forever gnaws the condemned. The Reformers retained this emphasis, grounding the doctrine of eternal punishment on passages likeMark 9.

Pastoral and Homiletical Application

1. Call to Repentance

The graphic description stirs urgency. It magnifies the seriousness of sin and presses hearers toward Christ’s atonement.

2. Motivation for Holiness

Self-denial—illustrated by severing offending limbs—becomes reasonable when set against eternal loss. Sanctification is not optional; it is demanded by the gravity of future realities.

3. Evangelistic Impetus

Awareness of everlasting consequences energizes missions and personal witness. Love for neighbor compels believers to warn them of coming wrath (Acts 20:31).

Practical Ministry Implications

• Discipleship should include candid teaching on judgment, not merely comfort.
• Counseling those ensnared in destructive habits benefits from Jesus’ radical imagery: decisive steps are warranted when souls are at stake.
• Corporate worship that reads passages likeMark 9:42–50 andIsaiah 66:24 cultivates reverence, balancing messages of grace with sober truth.

Summary

In Scripture, Strong’s Greek 4663 functions as a solemn emblem of everlasting judgment. Rooted in Old Testament prophecy and affirmed by Jesus, the undying worm warns believers and unbelievers alike. It summons repentance, fuels holiness, and anchors the church’s proclamation of a just and merciful God who offers salvation in Christ alone.