8481. And it bred worms. That this signifies that consequently it became filthy, is evident from the signification of "breeding worms," as being to produce what is filthy; for worms are produced from that which is filthy and stinking. The falsity of evil, which is in the good that is from our own, is compared to "a worm" because the case with them is similar; for falsity also gnaws and thus torments. There are two things which make hell, as there are two which make heaven. The two which make heaven are good and truth, and the two which make hell are evil and falsity. Consequently it is these two in heaven which make the happiness there; and it is the two in hell which make the torment there. The torment in hell from the falsity is compared to "a worm;" and the torment from the evil there is compared to "fire." So in Isaiah:
As the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall stand before Me, so shall your seed and your name stand: at last it shall come to pass from month to month, and from Sabbath to its Sabbath, that they shall stand before Me: then they shall go forth, and shall see the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me, for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched; and they shall be a loathing to all flesh (66:22-24).
In like manner it is said by the Lord in Mark:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (9:44, 46, 48);
speaking of Gehenna or hell. The filthiness of falsity is compared to "a worm" also in Moses:
Thou shalt plant vineyards, and till them, but thou shalt neither drink of the wine, neither shalt thou gather, because the worm shall devour it (Deut. 28:39);
"wine" denotes truth from good, and in the opposite sense falsity from evil (n. 6377).