Jezebel is discussed in the Books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings in the Old Testament of the Bible. Specifically, you can find references to her in 1 Kings 16:31, 1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 18:13 , and 2 Kings 9:7, 2 Kings 9:10, 2 Kings 9:22.
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
1 Kings 16:31
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.)
1 Kings 18:4
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 18:13
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 9:7
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 9:10
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 9:22
What does Jezebel mean in the Bible?
In the heart of the Bible’s storytelling, Jezebel holds a significant, though challenging, place. Her story unfolds primarily in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings. Born into royalty as the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, she married Ahab, king of Israel. This union was more than a simple marriage; it was a merging of different beliefs and practices that would deeply impact the spiritual landscape of Israel.
Jezebel wasn’t just any queen. She brought with her a fierce devotion to Baal, a deity worshipped by her people but considered false in the eyes of Israel. Ahab, influenced by his wife, began to serve and worship Baal too. This wasn’t a small matter; it was seen as a direct defiance against God, leading Israel astray from the path He had set for them.
Her impact didn’t stop at leading her husband and, consequently, a nation into idol worship. Jezebel took drastic measures against those who stood for God. The Bible tells us that she cut off the prophets of the Lord, a grim way of saying she had them killed. This act of violence against God’s messengers was a bold statement of her opposition to God and His ways.
In response to such defiance, God’s justice was pronounced through the prophet Elijah and later executed by Jehu. Jezebel’s end was foretold as one of dishonor; she would be killed, and her body left for the dogs, a prophecy that starkly came to pass, emphasizing the serious consequences of turning away from God.
Jezebel’s story in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder. It’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of forsaking God for other ‘gods,’ whether they be literal idols or the many modern distractions and priorities that can lead us away from His path. It shows the depth of God’s desire for His people to remain faithful and the lengths to which He will go to bring back those lost in the pursuit of false idols. It’s a story that resonates with the fear and respect we hold for God, underscoring the importance of steadfastness in faith and the avoidance of influences that might lead us astray.