The term "Worm of Remorse" is not explicitly found in the Bible, but it is a concept that has been derived from biblical imagery and teachings, particularly those related to guilt, repentance, and the consequences of sin. The imagery of a "worm" is often associated with decay, destruction, and the gnawing effects of sin on the human soul.

Biblical Imagery and Symbolism

The concept of a "worm" is notably present in the Bible, often symbolizing something that consumes or destroys. In Isaiah 66:24 , the prophet speaks of the fate of the wicked: "And as they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind." This passage is frequently interpreted as a depiction of eternal judgment, where the "worm" represents the ongoing torment of a guilty conscience or the perpetual remorse of those who have rejected God.

Similarly, in Mark 9:48 , Jesus refers to this imagery when describing hell: "where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched." Here, the "worm" is understood as a metaphor for the internal and unending anguish experienced by those who are separated from God due to their sins.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the "Worm of Remorse" can be seen as the inner turmoil and regret that accompanies unrepented sin. It is the spiritual and emotional consequence of turning away from God's commandments and failing to seek His forgiveness. This remorse is not merely a feeling of guilt but a profound recognition of one's separation from God and the resulting spiritual decay.

The Bible teaches that true repentance and turning back to God can alleviate this remorse. In 2 Corinthians 7:10 , Paul writes, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." This verse highlights the distinction between mere regret and genuine repentance. The "Worm of Remorse" can be seen as the worldly sorrow that leads to spiritual death if not addressed through repentance and faith in Christ.

Practical Application

For believers, the concept of the "Worm of Remorse" serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the importance of maintaining a right relationship with God. It encourages self-examination and the pursuit of holiness, as well as the necessity of seeking God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The Bible assures that through confession and repentance, believers can be cleansed of their sins and freed from the torment of remorse. As 1 John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

In summary, while the "Worm of Remorse" is not a direct biblical term, it encapsulates the biblical themes of guilt, repentance, and the consequences of sin. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the internal struggle and spiritual decay that result from unrepented sin, urging believers to seek God's grace and forgiveness.Mark 9:44,46,48
Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
Nave's Topical Index

Whether the Worm of the Damned is Corporeal?
... to the damned must be understood to be not of a corporeal but of a spiritual nature:
and this is the remorse of conscience, which is called a worm because it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the worm of the.htm

False Ambition Versus Childlikeness.
... Some regard the worm as a symbol of the gnawings of remorse, and the fire as a symbol
of actual punishment.] 49 For every one shall be salted with fire. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxiii false ambition versus childlikeness.htm

Gathering the Fragments.
... As long as you hide your fault you are a slave, you are torn and bitten by remorse,
the worm that dieth not, the fire that is not quenched. ...
/.../sermon lx gathering the fragments.htm

The Impotence of the Law.
... burns hotter, and the fang of the worm is sharper. If he looks to the moral law
in any form, and by any method, that he may get quit of his remorse and his ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the impotence of the law.htm

Set at Liberty.
... causing us to offend. Better this, and go into life maimed, than be cast,
as Herod was, to the fire and worm of unquenchable remorse. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xiv set at liberty.htm

The Power of Sorrow.
... It is quite true that remorse was produced by exposure, and that the remorse was
fatal ... not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven;" he was as a worm which turns ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/viii the power of sorrow.htm

Of Hell
... 2. The First thing intended by the worm that never dieth, seems to be a guilty
conscience; including self-condemnation, sorrow, shame, remorse, and a sense of ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 73 of hell.htm

Self-Mutilation for Self-Preservation
... but a thin thread, if I may so say, of personality quivering with the sense of
responsibility, and preyed upon by the gnawing worm of a too-late remorse. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture b/self-mutilation for self-preservation.htm

Evans -- the Fall and Recovery of Man
... and various purifications, of the pagans, show the handwriting of remorse upon their ...
of the incorruptible God into the likeness of the beast and the worm. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/evans the fall and.htm

God's Exhaustive Knowledge of Man. [*Continued]
... what they are doing, they begin to feel the fang of the worm. ... our performance and
feel consciously guilty, experience the first sensation of remorse, for what ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/gods exhaustive knowledge of man 2.htm

Summary of the Book of Jonah - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

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Worm: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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