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6
Therefore hath the curse ['alah] devoured ['akal] the earth ['erets], and they that dwell [yashab] therein are desolate ['asham]: therefore
the inhabitants [yashab] of the earth ['erets] are burned [charar], and
few [miz`ar] men ['enowsh] left [sha'ar]. KJV-Interlinear
6 Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer
for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few
men are left. ESV
These are symbolic expressions that have real effects on humanity.
The curse is the sinfulness of man. The sinfulness of man includes all manner of transgressions against God, including but not the least of which is mans indifference or disregard of truth.
This indifference or disregard is generally hidden behind a veil of pretense or dedication to other beliefs that have simply been invented to replace truth.
The result is the desolation of emptiness of the human soul.
Going back to Gen. 3:17-18, we know that it is mans sin that changed the earth to produce thorns and thistles rather than fruit and foods. We also know that the earth was not immediately covered in thorns, since the world obviously does produce foods sufficient to support humanity all of these many thousands of years.
But when man stacks sin upon sin, indifference upon indifference, then the earth withholds its production from time to time, even rebelling with many forms of natural catastrophes, so that man can remember his sins and repent.
Unfortunately most do not learn or even see the connection, and consequently do not repent. Therefore, scorched is the word used here to describe the punishment or the many punishments that result.
This leaves few men.
Few men is both symbolic in that the few, describes those who are the spiritually mature that survive any or all catastrophes, as well as those who God preserves in order to perpetuate His plan for future generations. But also, when the end of the world finally arrives, then that ‘few’ term will be more literal, and there won’t be very many people left alive.
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