to.la denotes worms in scenes of decay and also occurs in passages concerning scarlet-colored material or comparison.

The attested uses divide evenly between worms in scenes of spoiled food or desolation and forms occurring in contexts of scarlet-colored material or comparison; the latter connection is less precise.

1. Worms in decay and desolation · common

   In Exodus 16:20, the plural absolute form occurs where food left until morning deteriorates; the APB renders that it “bred worms and stank.” In Lamentations 4:5, the singular absolute form occurs in a scene of people lying desolate, where the APB renders that they “embrace the worm upon the dung heaps.”

   Exodus 16:20Lamentations 4:5
2. Scarlet-colored material or comparison · common

   In Exodus 25:4, the singular construct form appears within a list that the APB renders with “blue and purple and scarlet yarn.” In Isaiah 1:18, the singular absolute form occurs in the comparison of sins with scarlet and crimson, though the translation does not identify which English color expression corresponds to this term.

   Exodus 25:4Isaiah 1:18

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB explicitly uses “worms” in Exodus 16:20 and “worm” in Lamentations 4:5, while Exodus 25:4 and Isaiah 1:18 use scarlet or crimson language. The precise English correspondence in the color contexts remains uncertain.