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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Oecumenius
Naomi, who long ago suffered many afflictions concerning her children and other misfortunes, was called Bitter. (Ruth 1:20) Bitterness serves as a symbol of the remaining extraordinary hardships. This bitterness is what we sinners experienced at that time, becoming bitter over the glory of the saints, because, indeed, although such good things were prepared for humanity, we ourselves exchanged the present for what was to come.
Dionysius bar Salibi
And the name of the star is called wormwood; and a third of the water was made into wormwood, and many men died—Wormwood is a bitter root, and everything into which it is put turns into bitterness. And before the Lord's coming, thus will befall the pagans who do evil to the Christians: for the waters, their drink, are converted into bitterness. It is a figure of the fountain of Marah, at which the Hebrews encamped; the Lord made the water sweet with wood, for those who believed. …
Western Saints
Bede
And many men died from the waters. For many (as the Apostle says) follow their luxuries, through whom the way of truth is blasphemed (II Pet. II), yet for the people of God, as Moses teaches, every wave of the waters is drinkable.
Alcuin of York
And the name of the star is called Wormwood. Because the Devil withdrew from the sweetness of truth to turn into the bitterness of falsehood, it is right for him to be allotted the name of Wormwood. Then, since a great many people perish from the examples of the wicked, it is fittingly said after that, and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. Indeed when fleshly men perish spiritually for having been enticed by the doctrines of wicked people or the examples of their works, it is as if they died of bitter waters.
Translation