8481. 'And it bred worms' means that it was consequently something foul. This is clear from the meaning of 'breeding worms' as producing something foul; for worms are born from what is foul and putrid. Falsity arising from evil, present in good originating in the proprium or self, is compared to a worm because they are of a similar nature to each other; for falsity gnaws away and so torments. There are two entities constituting hell, just as there are two constituting heaven. The two constituting heaven are goodness and truth, and the two constituting hell are evil and falsity. Consequently the two in heaven are what make the happiness there, and the two in hell are what cause the torment there. The torment in hell caused by falsity is compared to a worm, and the torment caused by evil there is compared to fire. This is why it says in Isaiah,
As the new heavens and the new earth which I am about to make will stand before Me, so will your seed and your name stand. At length it will happen from month to month, and from sabbath to sabbath, that they will stand before Me They will go forth from there and will see the dead bodies of the men transgressing against Me For their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched. And they will be loathsome to all flesh. Isa 66:22-24.
Similar words were used by the Lord, in Mark,
Where their worm will not die, and the fire will not be quenched. Mark 9:44, 46, 48.
This refers to Gehenna or hell. The foulness of falsity is compared to a worm also in Moses,
You will plant and dress vineyards, but not conk wine nor gather [the fruit]; for the worm will eat it. Deut 28:39.
'Wine' stands for truth springing from good, and in the contrary sense for falsity arising from evil, 6377.
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