Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth. To those who will not repent of their sins, Christ, at His second advent, shall come, and smite them with a curse (Malachi 4:6). The Gentiles are amenable to the curse of the law, as they have its substance, so far as they have not seared and corrupted conscience, "written on their hearts" (Romans 2:15). The word for "earth" may be translated 'land'-namely, 'over the face of the whole land of Judea.' But the curse on the transgressors, though falling (in the design of the prophecy primarily) on Judea (compare the next vision, Zechariah 5:5-11), applies ultimately to all the earth, from which it is God's purpose at last to remove and "gather out all things that offend, and them which do iniquity" (Matthew 13:41).
For every one that stealeth shall be cut off, х niqaah (H5352)] - literally, cleared away.
As on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it
- i:e., on both sides of the roll (Vatablus). Or, from "this place ... from this place (repeated twice, as "the house" is repeated in Zechariah 5:4). (Maurer.) So х mizeh (H2088)] the same Hebrew "hence" is used, Genesis 37:17 (or, "on this and on that side," i:e., on every side). (Henderson.) None can escape, sin where he may: for God from one side to the other shall call all without exception to judgment (Calvin). God will not spare even "this place," Jerusalem, when it sins (Pembellus). The English version seems to take Vatablus' view.
According to it - according as it is written.