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Jezebel

The queen who brought Baal worship to Israel and hunted God’s prophets.

Old and New Testament · 9th century BC · 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Revelation · Also known as Queen of Israel, Wife of Ahab

About Jezebel

Jezebel was a princess of Sidon, daughter of King Ethbaal, who married King Ahab of Israel. She promoted the worship of Baal, fed hundreds of his prophets at her table, and killed the prophets of the LORD. After Elijah’s victory on Mount Carmel she vowed to kill him, and he fled. When a man named Naboth refused to sell Ahab his vineyard, she arranged false witnesses and had him stoned, so Ahab could take it. Elijah prophesied her end, and years later, when Jehu overthrew Ahab’s house, she was thrown from a window. Her name became a byword for false religion.

This guide speaks about Jezebel rather than as her, out of care. Sidon was a wealthy Phoenician city on the coast north of Israel. Revelation 2:20 uses her name for a false teacher at Thyatira, which is why "Jezebel" became an insult.

The story

Baal comes to Israel

Ahab "took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him." Jezebel "cut off the prophets of the LORD," while 450 prophets of Baal and 400 of the groves "eat at Jezebel’s table."

1 Kings 16:29-33; 18:4; 18:19

A threat to Elijah

After fire fell on Mount Carmel and the prophets of Baal were killed, Jezebel sent Elijah a message: "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." Elijah ran for his life.

1 Kings 19:1-3

Naboth’s vineyard

Ahab sulked because Naboth would not sell him his family vineyard. "Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel?" said Jezebel. She wrote letters in Ahab’s name, set up two false witnesses to accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king, and he was stoned. "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth," she told Ahab.

1 Kings 21:1-16

Key moments

Questions about Jezebel

What did Jezebel do to Naboth?

Naboth refused to sell Ahab his vineyard: "The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee." Jezebel told Ahab, "I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth," wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and had two false witnesses accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king. He was stoned, and Ahab took the vineyard. Elijah then confronted Ahab with God’s judgement.

Does Jezebel speak in the Bible?

Yes. Her recorded words include her threat to Elijah ("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"), her challenge to Ahab ("Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel?") and her taunt to Jehu ("Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?"). meetBible uses a guide for her, rather than a first-person portrayal, out of care.

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Read it yourself

Start with 1 Kings 18–19; 21.

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