Jeremiah 51:34-35
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What's striking here is the sheer brutality of the imagery used to describe Nebuchadnezzar's conquest. It's not just defeat; it's being "devoured," "crushed," and "emptied" like prey by a monstrous predator. This visceral language highlights how utterly God's people were violated and stripped bare, not just of possessions, but of their very life and dignity.
“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me; he has made me an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he has filled his stomach with my delicacies; he has rinsed me out. The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon,” let the inhabitant of Zion say. “My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,” let Jerusalem say.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah puts words into the mouth of Zion (representing Jerusalem and its people) as she cries out about the devastating destruction wrought by Nebuchadnezzar. This lament is framed within God's impending judgment against Babylon, highlighting how the oppressor's cruelty will ultimately be repaid. Zion's complaint vividly portrays the thoroughness of Babylon's plunder and exile, emphasizing the deep wounds inflicted upon God's chosen people.
Ever feel like a nation or group you belong to has been completely consumed and destroyed by an enemy? Jeremiah uses vivid, terrifying imagery to describe the absolute devastation brought by Babylon.
A Devouring Force
Jeremiah personifies Babylon and its king, Nebuchadnezzar, as a monstrous predator. The language here is intense:
This imagery highlights the extreme suffering and indignity Judah experienced under Babylonian rule. It was not a gentle defeat, but a violent consumption.
What did Babylon truly take? It wasn't just land and people, but the very essence of Judah's prosperity and joy. This verse reveals the true nature of their plunder.
Sated by Stolen Treasures
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The verse states Nebuchadnezzar 'filled his belly with my delicacies.' This refers to:
Vomited Out and Cast Away
The shocking final image is being 'rinsed out' or 'cast out.' This suggests:
When everything is lost and you feel utterly destroyed, does God even notice? Jeremiah's prophecy assures us that these cries of devastation are heard.
The Prophet as Advocate
Commentators like Calvin and Poole highlight a crucial purpose of these words: Jeremiah speaks these words in the name of the people. This isn't just historical reporting; it's a prayerful lament recorded for future generations.
Understand the original words
akal · Hebrew Verb
Often translated as 'devoured,' this term suggests a consuming, destructive action. It characterizes the total oppression or annihilation of a subject by an enemy or, in a divine sense, the outworking of God's wrath.
chamas · Hebrew Noun
Literally 'violence' or 'wrong,' this word describes an act of injustice, brutality, or cruelty committed against another. It is frequently associated with the moral failing of nations and the specific sins that provoke God's retributive justice.
she'er · Hebrew Noun
A theological term referring to one's relatives, blood relations, or fellow countrymen. In scripture, it signifies the covenant bond of community and the obligation of care and protection among God's people.
Tsiyon · Hebrew Noun
A name for Jerusalem, often signifying its status as the dwelling place of God and the center of true worship. It represents the people of God in their spiritual relationship with the Lord.
Jeremiah 51:34 vividly portrays Jerusalem's anguish, personified as speaking of the brutal plundering by Nebuchadnezzar. The imagery of being 'devoured,' 'crushed,' and 'emptied' reflects the complete devastation of the city and Temple in 586 BC, highlighting the intense suffering of God's people under Babylonian conquest.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar I conquers Judah and deports a portion of the population, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem again. He deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
After a final rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar's army destroys Jerusalem, burns the Temple, and deports the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This event is the ultimate devastation of Judah.
562 BC
Death of Nebuchadnezzar
The powerful king Nebuchadnezzar II dies. His reign saw the peak of Babylonian power and the destruction of Jerusalem.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Babylonian Empire falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia. This marks a shift in regional power and sets the stage for the return of exiled peoples.
This passage also uses imagery of a sea monster, likening God's past actions against Egypt to overcoming a great beast, which parallels the imagery of Nebuchadnezzar as a 'dragon' swallowing Jerusalem.
Psalm 137:7This Psalm expresses a similar sentiment of destruction and displacement by Babylon, echoing the cries of 'devoured' and 'cast out' by Jerusalem.
Lamentations 1:22This passage from Lamentations voices a similar complaint from Jerusalem, asking God to see how her enemies have dealt with her, mirroring the tone of Jeremiah 51:34.
Ezekiel 29:3This verse refers to Pharaoh as a 'great dragon lying in the midst of his rivers,' which is a similar image to the 'dragon' used in Jeremiah to describe Nebuchadnezzar's predatory actions.
barnesJeremiah 51:34: "Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out."
Literally, "Nebuchadrezzar ... hath devoured us, hath crushed us, he hath set as aside as an empty vessel, he hath swallowed as like a crocodile, he hath filled his maw with my delicacies Genesis 49:20 , he hath cast us out. My wrong and my flesh be upon Babylon, shall t…
clarkeJeremiah 51:34: "Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out."
Nebuchadrezzar - hath devoured me - These are the words of Judea; he has taken away all my riches. He hath cast me out - He shall vomit all up; i.e., they shall be regained.
What's striking here is the sheer brutality of the imagery used to describe Nebuchadnezzar's conquest. It's not just defeat; it's being "devoured," "crushed," and "emptied" like prey by a monstrous predator. This visceral language highlights how utterly God's people were violated and stripped bare, not just of possessions, but of their very life and dignity.
In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah puts words into the mouth of Zion (representing Jerusalem and its people) as she cries out about the devastating destruction wrought by Nebuchadnezzar. This lament is framed within God's impending judgment against Babylon, highlighting how the oppressor's cruelty will ultimately be repaid. Zion's complaint vividly portrays the thoroughness of Babylon's plunder and exile, emphasizing the deep wounds inflicted upon God's chosen people.
In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah puts words into the mouth of Zion (representing Jerusalem and its people) as she cries out about the devastating destruction wrought by Nebuchadnezzar. This lament is framed within God's impending judgment against Babylon, highlighting how the oppressor's cruelty will ultimately be repaid. Zion's complaint vividly portrays the thoroughness of Babylon's plunder and exile, emphasizing the deep wounds inflicted upon God's chosen people.
"“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me; he has made me an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he has filled his stomach with my delicacies; he has rinsed me out.…" — What's striking here is the sheer brutality of the imagery used to describe Nebuchadnezzar's conquest. It's not just defeat; it's being "devoured," "crushed," and "emptied" like prey by a monstrous p…
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Last reviewed October 2026
