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Psalm 22:6

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

4Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them.
5They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.
6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,
8“He trusts in the LORD. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”
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← Psalm 22:5Psalm 22:7 →
Notice

The word “worm” shows how far contempt can reach, as the speaker describes himself in terms that seem to strip away his humanity.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What difference do you notice between calling yourself a worm and saying that people despise you?

Write on this

What happens to the tone when the remembered deliverance of verses 4–5 turns into this lament?

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What would you want to say to God about being treated as less than human?

Write on this
Connect

Where else Scripture says this

12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Isaiah 53:3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t …Both passages use “despised” to describe a sufferer whom other people treat with contempt.
Job 25:6How much less man, who is a worm, and the son of man, who is a worm!”Both use a worm to describe human lowliness; Psalm 22 speaks of one sufferer, while Job’s speaker speaks of humanity.
Isaiah 41:14Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.Both use the word “worm”; the psalm voices humiliation, while Isaiah addresses Jacob with God’s promise of help.
Isaiah 49:7The LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, says to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and …Both describe someone despised by people; Isaiah also speaks of the faithful LORD choosing the despised one.
Psalm 69:7–12Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.Both speakers bear reproach; Psalm 69 adds that the reproach is borne for God’s sake.
Philippians 2:7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.The shared thread is a low position: the psalm names public contempt, while Philippians describes taking the form of a servant.
Psalm 69:19–20You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.Both speakers name their reproach; Psalm 69 also declares that God knows the shame and sees the adversaries.
Psalm 31:11Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, a horror to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.Both describe contempt from other people; Psalm 31 names neighbors and acquaintances who recoil from the speaker.
Matthew 11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is …Both passages describe public reproach; Matthew records the insulting accusations directed at the Son of Man.
Matthew 27:20–23Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.Both passages portray hostility from people; Matthew describes leaders persuading the multitudes to seek Jesus’ destruction.
Psalm 119:141I am small and despised. I don’t forget your precepts.Both speakers describe themselves as despised; Psalm 119 adds that the speaker does not forget God’s precepts.
Lamentations 3:30Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him. Let him be filled full of reproach.Both passages name reproach; Lamentations also speaks of a person offering his cheek to someone who strikes him.
Where this verse fits

Loneliness. church hurt. injustice and anger.

What the Bible says about loneliness →What the Bible says about anger →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read Psalm 22:4–8 and mark the turn at verse 6

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Encouragement

The contempt described here is severe. You do not have to soften such pain to bring it before God; this lament speaks from within it.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 22:6. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 22 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).