King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 51:34 Mean?

Jeremiah 51:34 in the King James Version says “Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallo...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Jeremiah 51:34 · KJV

Context

32

And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.

33

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come. it is: or, in the time that he thresheth her

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.

35

The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say. The violence: Heb. My violence flesh: or, remainder inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress

36

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

Read Jeremiah 51 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study 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.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural 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).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the imagery of being 'swallowed like a dragon' connect Babylon to the serpent of Eden and the dragon of Revelation?
  2. What does this verse teach about the difference between God using a nation as His instrument and that nation being righteous?
  3. How should understanding Jerusalem's lament affect our reading of God's subsequent judgment on Babylon?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
אֲכָלַ֣נִו1 of 14

“hath devoured”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

הֲמָמַ֗נִו2 of 14

“me he hath crushed”

H2000

properly, to put in commotion; by implication, to disturb, drive, destroy

נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר֮3 of 14

“Nebuchadrezzar”

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶ֣לֶךְ4 of 14

“the king”

H4428

a king

בָּבֶל֒5 of 14

“of Babylon”

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

הִצִּיגַ֙נִו֙6 of 14

“me he hath made”

H3322

to place permanently

כְּלִ֣י7 of 14

“vessel”

H3627

something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)

רִ֔יק8 of 14

“me an empty”

H7385

emptiness; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain

בְּלָעַ֙נִו֙9 of 14

“he hath swallowed me up”

H1104

to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy

כַּתַּנִּ֔ין10 of 14

“like a dragon”

H8577

a marine or land monster, i.e., sea-serpent or jackal

מִלָּ֥א11 of 14

“he hath filled”

H4390

to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)

כְרֵשׂ֖וֹ12 of 14

“his belly”

H3770

the paunch or belly (as swelling out)

מֵֽעֲדָנָ֑י13 of 14

“with my delicates”

H5730

pleasure

הֱדִיחָֽנִו׃14 of 14

“he hath cast me out”

H1740

to thrust away; figuratively, to cleanse

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 51:34 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 51:34 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 50:17Jeremiah 51:44Matthew 23:13Isaiah 24:1-3Job 20:15Amos 8:4

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
View all places in Jeremiah 51 →

Test Your Knowledge

Jeremiah 51 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJeremiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Jeremiah 51 with CommentaryAll Jeremiah ChaptersComplete Jeremiah QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes