Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth,.... The inhabitants of it, and the fruits upon it, alluding to the earth being cursed for the sin of man, when it brought forth briers and thorns; this may denote the seven vials of God's wrath poured upon the earth, or the antichristian states.
Some, by the curse, understand perjury or false swearing; so the Targum,"therefore, because of perjury (or a false oath) the earth is become a desert;''of which popes, and Popish princes, cardinals, priests, Jesuits, &c.
have been notoriously guilty:and they that dwell therein are desolate: for want of houses, cities and towns being destroyed by war; or through famine, for want of provisions, the earth being cursed for their sins: or the words may be rendered, "for they that dwell therein are guilty" ; of idolatry, bloodshed, perjury, thefts, sorcery, and all other abominations, Re 9:20:therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned; their cities burnt with fire, and particularly the city of Rome; or their persons, their bodies burnt with burning fevers, and pestilential diseases; and their minds with envy, fury, and madness: this may be the same with the fourth vial poured upon the sun, when men will be scorched with fire and great heat, and blaspheme, Re 16:8.
The Vulgate Latin version here renders it, "shall be mad"; through the wrath of God poured out upon them:and few men left; but what shall be consumed by fire or sword, by famine or pestilence, or by one or other of the vials; and those that remain shall be frightened, and give glory to the God of heavens Re 11:13.
wmvayw, hmartosan, Sept. "peccabunt", V. L.