We are in chapter thirty-nine of Exodus with our word for today. תּוֹלֵעָה worm, glow-worm, crimson, scarlet, vivid red. It is used 41 times in the Old Testament, 7 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense as any of numerous, relatively small, elongated, soft-bodied animals which would include many insect larvae. A few good examples of this are the manna from heaven, the curses of disobedience, and God teaching Jonah a lesson. Exodus 16:19-20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred תּוֹלָעִ֖ים worms and stank. Deuteronomy 28:39 You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them. Jonah 4:7 The next day, God appointed a תּוֹלַ֔עַת worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. The overwhelming way our word is used with 27 uses referring to setting up the tabernacle worship as wool yarn that has been dyed red. Exodus 35:23, 25 Every one who possessed blue or purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י [Literally worm red or red red. We have two words that can both mean red but translated just once as scarlet. We will look at this other word tomorrow] or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them … And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple תּוֹלַ֥עַת הַשָּׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. This is how our word is used 7 times in our chapter to describe the color of the yarn used to make the priests garments. Exodus 39:1-3 From the blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֣עַת הַשָּׁנִ֔י and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple תּוֹלַ֥עַת הַשָּׁנִ֖י and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. It is also identified specifically as part of the shirt or ephod. Exodus 39:4-5 The skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. And another reference as part of the breastpiece. Exodus 39:8 He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. We also see it used as the color of the hem of the robe. Exodus 39:24 On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֑י and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. And our word is used to describe the color of the sash of the coats for the priests. Exodus 39:27, 29 The sash of fine twined linen and of blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns, embroidered with needlework. The significance of the color red with the tabernacle worship definitely has meaning when we look at the sacrifices that involved blood. This definitely points to Christ sacrifice. We will look more into this with our other word that can be translated red tomorrow. For today let’s look at the other way our word is used that is in the sense of making a statement about one’s value or worth usually in a mocking way. Isaiah 41:13-14 Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Fear not, you תּוֹלַ֣עַת worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel (Job 25:4-6). I’ll close with this psalm that was a prediction that people would mock Jesus as he died for our sins to connect us to God. Psalm 22:6-8 But I am a תוֹלַ֣עַת worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
