Jeremiah 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.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
This verse reflects Jerusalem's experience in 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroyed the city, burned the temple, slaughtered the population, and exiled survivors to Babylon. The imagery of being 'devoured' and 'swallowed' captures the totality of destruction—city walls demolished, temple treasures looted, royal family executed or blinded, thousands killed or deported. Archaeological evidence confirms massive destruction layers from this period in Jerusalem. While God used Babylon as His instrument to judge Judah's sin (Jeremiah 25:9, 27:6), Babylon's cruelty exceeded divine authorization. The empire treated conquered peoples as resources to exploit, showing no mercy even to those who surrendered. This violated God's intention and brought judgment on Babylon itself. The principle applies throughout history: God may use ungodly nations to discipline His people, but those nations remain accountable for their own violence and pride (Habakkuk 1:12-2:17).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the imagery of being 'swallowed like a dragon' connect Babylon to the serpent of Eden and the dragon of Revelation?
- What does this verse teach about the difference between God using a nation as His instrument and that nation being righteous?
- How should understanding Jerusalem's lament affect our reading of God's subsequent judgment on Babylon?
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Analysis & Commentary
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. This verse gives voice to Jerusalem's lament, personifying the city as a victim of Babylonian violence. The succession of verbs—devoured, crushed, emptied, swallowed, cast out—accumulates imagery of consumption and destruction.
Devoured me uses akalani (אֲכָלָנִי), meaning consumed, eaten, destroyed completely. Crushed me translates hemamani (הֲמָמַנִי), meaning shattered, broken, thrown into confusion. Made me an empty vessel employs keli riq (כְּלִי רִיק), depicting Jerusalem as a container poured out and left void—stripped of population, wealth, and glory. Swallowed me up like a dragon uses tannin (תַּנִּין), a sea monster or serpent, evoking chaos imagery from ancient Near Eastern mythology. This connects Babylon to primordial evil—the serpent of Eden, Leviathan, and later the dragon of Revelation 12-13.
Filled his belly with my delicates depicts glutted consumption of Jerusalem's treasures and population. Cast me out uses hiddiḥani (הִדִּיחַנִי), meaning thrust away, expelled—describing exile. This lament justifies the vengeance God will execute (v. 35-36), showing that Babylon exceeded its mandate as God's instrument of judgment and became a predatory monster deserving destruction.