Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Biblical Person · Old · Divided Monarchy · -0899-01-0 – -0840-01-0

Jezebel

Jezebel

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Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab of Israel, notorious for promoting Baal worship and opposing the prophet Elijah, ultimately meeting a violent death as prophesied.

AI-assisted summary — may contain inaccuracies.

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Biographical facts

Born
-0899-01-0
Died
-0840-01-0
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Where Jezebel appears

20 verses across 3 books.

1Kgs13×2Kgs6×Rev1×

Verses mentioning Jezebel

  • 1Kgs 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
  • 1Kgs 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.)
  • 1Kgs 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?
  • 1Kgs 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.
  • 1Kgs 19:1 — And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
  • 1Kgs 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.
  • 1Kgs 21:5 — But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?
  • 1Kgs 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.
  • 1Kgs 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.
  • 1Kgs 21:14 — Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
  • 1Kgs 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
  • 1Kgs 21:23 — And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
  • 1Kgs 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.
  • 2Kgs 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.
  • 2Kgs 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.
  • 2Kgs 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?
  • 2Kgs 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.
  • 2Kgs 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 Jez
  • 2Kgs 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.
  • Rev 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 th
Voices from the tradition

The Church Fathers on Jezebel

Patristic commentary on the Scriptures that name Jezebel.

"Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 'So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.' " The insane woman contemplated that after learning from the king what Elijah had done to the prophets of Baal. However, she postponed the revenge that she desired,…

Finally, even Jezebel herself was eaten by dogs and the birds of the air, in order to show that the spiritual wickedness becomes the prey of the rich burial. Therefore, flee, rich man, from such an end. But you will flee from such an end if you flee from such a disgrace. Do not be like Ahab, desiring a neighboring possession. Do not…

But I have this against you; this is to show that only God is completely blameless. What do I have against you? That you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, that you do not persecute [διώκεις] her. From Jezebel, who dwelt with Ahab, she who is continually a demonstration of wickedness. She says that she…

Although on account of [your] faithfulness and your service for those in need I acknowledge your piety and your endurance, nonetheless I rightly blame you, because you allow the heresy of the Nicolaitans to exist openly. This heresy is figuratively called "Jezebel" because of its impiety and licentiousness. Because of this [heresy] my…

— Andreas of Caesarea (614) on Rev 2:20

But I have this against you, that you permit the woman Jezebel, etc. Indeed, you are commendable in your work and faith, but you are reproachable in this, that you do not rebuke with worthy denunciation the synagogue of pseudo-apostles, who falsely claim to be Christians. The name Jezebel, which signifies a flow of blood, is fitting…

Historic voices touch this life

29 passages from 11 historic works cite verses that mention Jezebel.