Wormtongue, Saruman, and the Serpent in Paradise: Old Liars with Forked Tongues

Master Wormtongue is the adviser of King Theoden, poisoning his mind and will.  As Theoden said to him later:

If this is bewitchment, it seems to me more wholesome than your whisperings.  Your leechcraft ere long would have had me walking on all fours like a beast. (Two Towers p. 132)

The word “worm” does not mean the earthworm eaten by birds.  Worm means dragon or serpent (Old English “wyrm” and High German “wurm”) (see Wikipedia).  And it is this meaning Gandalf uses:

Down, snake!  …. Down on your belly!  How long is it isince Saruman bought you?  What was the promised price?  When all the men were dead, you were to pick your share of the treasure, and take the woman you desire?  Too long have you watched her under your eyelids and haunted her steps.

(Wormtounge then said, ‘You lied.’)

…. I do not lie.  See, Theoden, here is a snake!  With safety you cannot take it with you, nor can you leave it behind.  To slay it would be just. (Two Towers p. 133)

Theoden offered a choice to Wormtongue to go with him to war to whither he will.  But then if they meet again, Theoden shall not anymore be merciful.  And Wormtongue’s reaction became serpentlike:

Slowly Wormtongue rose.  He looked at them with half-closed eyes.  Lst of all he scanned Theoden’s face and opened his mouth as if to speak.  Then sudenly he drew himself up.  His hands worked.  His eyes glittered.  Such malice was in them that men stepped back from him.  He bared his teeth; and then with a hissing breath he spat before the king’s feet, and darting to one side, he fled down the stair. (Two Towers p. 34)

Wormtongue learned his wormcraft from Saruman.  During their parley with Saruman, Eomer spoke to Theoden:

Lord, hear me! …. Now we feel the peril that we were warned of.  Have we ridden form to victory, only to stand at last amazed by an old liar with honey on his forked tongue…. (Two Towers p. 203)

And Saruman responded

If we speak of poisoned tongues what shall we say of yours, young serpent?

In the Book of Genesis, the Old Liar with a Forked Tongue is the Serpent who tempted Eve:

Did God really tell you not to eat from any trees in the garden?  ….. You certainly will not die!  No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad.  (Gen 3:1-5)

When Adam and Eve committed sin,  God cursed the Serpent:

Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; On your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. (Gen 3:14)

The ancient serpent is Satan  as said in the Book of Revelation:

The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.  (Rev 12:9)

He is the Father of Lies.  As Jesus said to the Jews:

You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.  (Jn 8:44)