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Jezebel

femaleDivided Monarchy

Meaning: “Where is the prince? (Baal)

The Phoenician queen of King Ahab who promoted Baal worship, persecuted the LORD’s prophets, and engineered Naboth’s murder — the Bible’s archetype of wicked influence.

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Biography

Jezebel, a princess of Sidon and the wife of King Ahab of Israel, is Scripture's archetype of corrupting, ruthless influence. She drove the northern kingdom deep into Baal worship and set herself against the LORD and His prophets.

Baal's champion

Jezebel imported the worship of Baal and Asherah, supported hundreds of their prophets at the royal table, and "cut off the prophets of the LORD" (1 Kings 18:4). After Elijah's victory on Carmel, she vowed to kill him, sending the prophet fleeing for his life (1 Kings 19:2).

The murder of Naboth

When Naboth refused to sell Ahab his vineyard, Jezebel arranged false witnesses to have him stoned, then handed the land to her sulking husband (1 Kings 21:7–15). For this, Elijah pronounced doom on her house: "the dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel" (1 Kings 21:23).

A violent end

Years later, when Jehu came to purge Ahab's dynasty, Jezebel defiantly painted her face and looked from a window. At Jehu's command her own eunuchs threw her down, and the dogs devoured her, fulfilling Elijah's word (2 Kings 9:30–37). Her name endures in the New Testament as a symbol of seduction into false teaching (Revelation 2:20).

Life Timeline

869 BC

Marries Ahab and establishes Baal worship in Israel

1 Kings 16:31
863 BC

Threatens Elijah after the contest on Mount Carmel

1 Kings 19:2
860 BC

Engineers the judicial murder of Naboth

1 Kings 21:15
841 BC

Thrown from a window and killed, fulfilling Elijah's word

2 Kings 9:33

On the Bible timeline

Jezebel belongs to the The Divided Monarchy era (c. 930 – 586 BC).

  1. c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides
  2. 722 BCThe Fall of Samaria
  3. 586 BCThe Fall of Jerusalem

Family Tree

JJezebelDivided Monarchy
spouse shown beside
Children
AAhaziah Of Israel
JJehoram Of Israel
Selah · myselahh.com

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Themes & lessons from Jezebel

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Jezebel appears.

Jezebel10×Naboth8×Government2×Murder2×Agency1×Doubting1×Kings1×Martyrdom1×Money1×Persecution1×Prophets1×Revenge1×Sidonians, the1×Sin1×Water1×Wives1×Woman1×Women1×

People they appear with

Ahab4×
Elijah3×
Naboth3×
Jehu2×
Jeroboam1×

Places in their story

Jezreel5×
Sidon (Zidon)1×
Mount Carmel1×

Scripture Appearances

20 verses in 3 books
1 Kings13 verses

1 Kings 16:31

And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. as if: Heb. was it a light thing, etc

1 Kings 18:4

For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) Jezebel: Heb. Izebel

1 Kings 18:13

Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

1 Kings 18:19

Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.

1 Kings 19:1

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

1 Kings 19:2

Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

1 Kings 21:5

But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?

1 Kings 21:7

And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

1 Kings 21:11

And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.

1 Kings 21:14

Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

1 Kings 21:15

And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.

1 Kings 21:23

And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. wall: or, ditch

1 Kings 21:25

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. stirred: or, incited

2 Kings6 verses

2 Kings 9:7

And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

2 Kings 9:10

And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.

2 Kings 9:22

And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?

2 Kings 9:30

And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. painted: Heb. put her eyes in painting

2 Kings 9:36

Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: by: Heb. by the hand of

2 Kings 9:37

And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

Revelation1 verse

Revelation 2:20

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Frequently asked about Jezebel

Who was Jezebel in the Bible?

The Phoenician queen of King Ahab who promoted Baal worship, persecuted the LORD’s prophets, and engineered Naboth’s murder — the Bible’s archetype of wicked influence.

What does the name Jezebel mean?

The name Jezebel means “Where is the prince? (Baal)”.

What did Jezebel do in the Bible?

Jezebel served as queen of israel.

Who were Jezebel's children?

Jezebel's children include Athaliah, Ahaziah Of Israel, Jehoram Of Israel.

Where does Jezebel appear in the Bible?

Jezebel is mentioned 20 times across 3 books: 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Revelation.

What can we learn from Jezebel?

The story of Jezebel touches on themes of jezebel, naboth, government, murder — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Jezebel's life.

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