Jeremiah 51:14
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This verse contains a subtle but powerful twist: God swears He will "fill" the city with men, not with its own population, but with enemies like a swarm of locusts. The "shout of victory" they will raise isn't just noise, but a triumphant song, like those sung during the grape harvest, signifying their complete and utter trampling of Babylon underfoot.
The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself: Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts, and they shall raise the shout of victory over you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of God's judgment against Babylon, detailed throughout Jeremiah 50-51. Jeremiah has just described how the city's once mighty walls and fortifications will be breached and its inhabitants scattered. God emphasizes the certainty of Babylon's destruction by swearing by Himself, comparing the invading army to an overwhelming swarm of locusts and promising they will celebrate their victory with triumphant shouts.
Why does God swear an oath? What does it reveal about Him when He does?
A Divine Guarantee
The prophet starts this verse with a powerful declaration: 'The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself.' This isn't just a casual promise; it's a solemn oath. The Bible explains that God, when he swears, swears by himself because there's no one greater. He uses this language, which we understand from human experience, to convey the absolute certainty of His word. Think of it as God putting His own eternal being on the line to guarantee that His decree will come to pass.
This isn't about God needing assurance; it's about our need for assurance. He takes on human-like language and actions to make His message resonate with us, emphasizing that His faithfulness is as dependable as His own existence. When God swears, it's a sign of His deep commitment to His justice and His promises, demanding our full attention and belief.
What do locusts have to do with armies and the fall of a city?
The Swarm of Judgment
Jeremiah compares the invading army to 'locusts' or 'caterpillars.' This imagery isn't arbitrary; it’s a potent symbol of overwhelming numbers and utter devastation. Ancient readers would have vivid memories of locust plagues stripping fields bare, leaving nothing behind.
When God says, 'I will fill you with men, as many as locusts,' He's not just talking about a large army. He's describing an unstoppable, consuming force that will leave the mighty city of Babylon barren and destroyed. This comparison highlights the sheer scale of the invasion and the total ruin that awaits the city. It’s a picture of judgment that is both numerous and voracious.
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What does a celebration song have to do with a city's downfall?
The Sound of Victory
The phrase 'they shall raise the shout of victory' or 'the vintage song' is crucial. In ancient times, the 'vintage song' was a joyful celebration after the grape harvest, a time of immense satisfaction and triumph. When this song is directed against Babylon, it transforms from a sound of joy to a terrifying declaration of conquest.
It signifies that the enemies will not only defeat Babylon but will do so decisively, with absolute triumph. They will 'trample' the city under foot, much like grapes are trampled in the winepress. This isn't just a battle; it's a complete overthrow, celebrated with the loudest possible cheers of victory. The invaders will celebrate their conquest over the once-proud city.
Understand the original words
tseba'ot · Hebrew Noun
Refers to God’s absolute sovereignty and His supreme authority as the Commander of all heavenly armies and the entire created order.
Jeremiah's prophecy in this verse is set against the backdrop of Babylon's rise and eventual fall. The imagery of locusts and the vintage song speaks to the utter destruction and triumphant conquest by the Persian forces under Cyrus, fulfilling God's judgment against the city.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire at its height
The Neo-Assyrian Empire was a dominant world power, known for its military might and vast territorial control, which set a precedent for imperial ambition.
626 BC
Nabopolassar founds the Neo-Babylonian Empire
Following a period of Assyrian decline, Nabopolassar successfully revolted and established an independent Babylonian empire, which would rise to challenge its former overlords.
605 BC
First Babylonian deportation of Judah
Nebuchadnezzar II, son of Nabopolassar, conquers Judah and deports a number of its citizens, including Daniel, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This catastrophic event profoundly shaped Jewish identity and prophecy.
c. 550 BC
Cyrus the Great unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus unites previously disparate Persian tribes and conquers the Median Empire, creating a powerful new force on the geopolitical stage that would soon threaten Babylon.
539 BC— this verse
Fall of Babylon to Cyrus
The Neo-Babylonian Empire falls to Cyrus the Great and his Persian army, often attributed to internal weaknesses and a strategic, perhaps divinely aided, conquest.
This passage directly parallels Jeremiah's prophecy by naming Cyrus and detailing God's sovereign plan to use him to conquer Babylon, even opening gates before him.
Jeremiah 25:30-31This earlier prophecy by Jeremiah also describes God's judgment against nations, using the imagery of a 'vintage song' and a 'great slaughter' to signify their destruction.
Nahum 3:15-17Nahum similarly uses the imagery of locusts to describe an invading army that will overwhelm and destroy Nineveh, highlighting the vulnerability of even fortified cities.
Revelation 18:1-2This New Testament passage echoes the judgment on Babylon, portraying it as a place of demonic habitation and a 'cage for every unclean bird,' signifying its utter desolation after judgment.
barnesJeremiah 51:14: "The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee."
Rather, "Surely I have filled thee with men as with locusts, and they shall sing over thee the vintage-song." The vintage-shout suggests the idea of trampling Babylon under foot, as the vintagers trample the grapes; a metaphor of the divine wrath.
calvinJeremiah 51:14: "The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee."
- Juravit Jehova exercituum per animam suam, Nisi implevero to homine sicut locusta (hoc est, hominibus sicut locustis, aut bruchis,) qui canunt super to ddyh, (id est, canticum vindemiale, cujus ante facta fuit mentio.)
The Prophet more fully confirms what he had said by introducing God as making an oath; and it is the most s…
This verse contains a subtle but powerful twist: God swears He will "fill" the city with men, not with its own population, but with enemies like a swarm of locusts. The "shout of victory" they will raise isn't just noise, but a triumphant song, like those sung during the grape harvest, signifying their complete and utter trampling of Babylon underfoot.
This verse is part of God's judgment against Babylon, detailed throughout Jeremiah 50-51. Jeremiah has just described how the city's once mighty walls and fortifications will be breached and its inhabitants scattered. God emphasizes the certainty of Babylon's destruction by swearing by Himself, comparing the invading army to an overwhelming swarm of locusts and promising they will celebrate their victory with triumphant shouts.
This verse is part of God's judgment against Babylon, detailed throughout Jeremiah 50-51. Jeremiah has just described how the city's once mighty walls and fortifications will be breached and its inhabitants scattered. God emphasizes the certainty of Babylon's destruction by swearing by Himself, comparing the invading army to an overwhelming swarm of locusts and promising they will celebrate their victory with triumphant shouts.
"The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself: Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts, and they shall raise the shout of victory over you." — This verse contains a subtle but powerful twist: God swears He will "fill" the city with men, not with its own population, but with enemies like a swarm of locusts. The "shout of victory" they will r…
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Last reviewed October 2026
