Biblical Profile: Jezebel

Jezebel

Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon (1 Kgs 16:31), married King Ahab of Israel, probably to confirm a political alliance between their countries. Jezebel promoted Baal worship and demanded absolute rights for the monarchy.

Jezebel influenced Ahab into establishing Baal worship in Samaria and setting up an Asherah pole (16:30-33). She tried to exterminate God’s prophets (18:4) and supported large groups of Baal’s prophets in the royal palace (18:19).

Elijah’s confrontation with Jezebel and Ahab culminated on Mount Carmel (18:19-40), where Elijah challenged Israel to follow the true God. Following a display of God’s power, the Israelites acknowledged God and helped Elijah slaughter the false prophets. When Jezebel heard this, she threatened Elijah, and he fled (19:1-3).

Later, Jezebel advised her husband about how to steal a vineyard from his neighbor Naboth. When Naboth wouldn’t sell it, Jezebel coldly devised a plan to falsely convict Naboth of cursing God and the king, and he was executed. Ahab seized the vineyard, but God sent Elijah to pronounce judgment on Jezebel and Ahab (21:20-24). Ahab soon died (22:29-40), but Jezebel survived throughout her son Ahaziah’s reign. She was later executed when Jehu exterminated the ruling family, and God’s sentence against her was fulfilled (2 Kgs 9:30-37).

Jezebel’s corrupt influence spread to the southern kingdom of Judah when her daughter Athaliah married Jehoram, King Jehoshaphat’s son (see 2 Kgs 8:18, 26-27).

The long-standing association of her name with evil is seen in Revelation 2:20, where the name Jezebel is used to label a prophetess who seduced the Christians of Thyatira to commit sexual sins and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Passages for Further Study

1 Kgs 16:31–21:28; 2 Kgs 9:1-37; Rev 2:20