Holy Bible Online 
Jezebel was a princess from Phoenicia (modern-day Lebanon), known for her negative influence on the kingdom of Israel. Her marriage to King Ahab of Israel was a political alliance that brought significant consequences for the Israelite people.
By marrying Ahab, Jezebel introduced the worship of Baal, promoting pagan practices in Israel. She used her position as queen to try to replace the God of Israel with Baal, which led to major religious conflict. Jezebel also persecuted the prophets of God, attempting to silence those who resisted her desire to expand idolatry in Israel.
Her main enemy was the prophet Elijah, who denounced the actions of Jezebel and Ahab. One of the most notable moments of this rivalry was the challenge on Mount Carmel, where Elijah proved that the God of Israel was the true God, unlike Baal, whose prophets failed to demonstrate any power. After this confrontation, Jezebel tried to kill Elijah, who fled to save his life.
Jezebel was also involved in a serious crime: she orchestrated the death of Naboth, a righteous man who refused to sell his vineyard to King Ahab. Jezebel arranged a false accusation against Naboth, who was stoned to death, allowing Ahab to take possession of his land.
Jezebel’s death was violent. She was thrown from a window by her own servants, on the orders of Jehu, a commander who took the throne of Israel. Her body was devoured by dogs, fulfilling a prophecy made by Elijah about her tragic end.
Key Events in Jezebel’s Life
The main events of Jezebel’s life, according to the Bible, are:
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Her marriage to Ahab: Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon, married Ahab, king of Israel, forming a political alliance that brought significant Phoenician influence over Israel.
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Introduction of Baal worship: Jezebel introduced Baal worship to Israel by building altars and promoting pagan practices throughout the kingdom.
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Persecution of God’s prophets: Jezebel ordered the persecution and execution of the Lord’s prophets while protecting and supporting the prophets of Baal and Asherah.
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Confrontation with the prophet Elijah: Jezebel became Elijah’s enemy after the prophet defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, demonstrating that the God of Israel is the true God. Following Elijah’s victory, Jezebel vowed revenge against him.
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Murder of Naboth: Jezebel devised a plot to kill Naboth so that Ahab could seize his vineyard. She arranged false accusations against Naboth, leading to his death by stoning.
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Elijah’s prophecy about Jezebel’s death: The prophet Elijah prophesied that Jezebel would be punished for her crimes and that dogs would devour her body.
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Jezebel’s death: Years later, Jezebel was thrown from a window by her own servants on the orders of Jehu, and her body was devoured by dogs, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy.
Bible Study on Jezebel
What Did Jezebel Look Like Physically?
The Bible does not describe Jezebel’s physical appearance in detail. It does not mention the color of her eyes, her height, or other specific aspects of her looks. However, there are a few references that give us clues about how she was perceived.
The only description of her appearance appears in 2 Kings 9:30. There, it says that Jezebel “painted her eyes with kohl, adorned her head, and looked out of a window” when she learned that Jehu was coming to kill her. The fact that she painted her eyes and dressed herself up shows that she cared quite a bit about her appearance. This suggests that Jezebel was a vain and elegant woman, which was common among royal women of that time.
Additionally, Jezebel was a princess, so she likely possessed power and beauty, as royal marriages often involved strategic alliances in which appearance and charisma were highly valued.
However, her fame comes much more from her actions and behavior than from her physical appearance. Jezebel is known for being a powerful, determined, manipulative, and idolatrous woman, as well as for persecuting God’s prophets and promoting Baal worship in Israel.
The Death of Jezebel
Jezebel’s death, as recounted in the Bible, was tragic and violent, fulfilling the prophecy of the prophet Elijah. After the death of her husband, King Ahab, Jezebel continued to exert influence over the kingdom of Israel, but her power was coming to an end.
Jehu, a commander of Israel’s army, was anointed king and given the mission to bring an end to Ahab’s dynasty, including Jezebel. When Jehu arrived at the city of Jezreel, where Jezebel lived, she confronted him from the window of her palace. Beforehand, Jezebel prepared herself by painting her eyes and fixing her hair, attempting to maintain her dignity even in the face of death.
Jehu ordered Jezebel’s servants to throw her out the window. They obeyed, and Jezebel fell, dying instantly. Her body was trampled by Jehu’s horses. When they went to bury her, they found only her skull, hands, and feet, as dogs had devoured the rest of her body. This fulfilled Elijah’s prophecy, which said that Jezebel would meet a violent end and that her body would be eaten by dogs (2 Kings 9:30-37). Her death symbolized God’s judgment upon her life of wickedness and idolatry.
Jezebel and King Ahab
The relationship between Jezebel and King Ahab, according to the Bible, was marked by Jezebel’s strong influence over him. Ahab was the king of Israel, and his marriage to Jezebel was a political alliance. However, that marriage brought spiritual and moral consequences to the kingdom of Israel.
Jezebel was a fervent worshiper of Baal, and with Ahab’s support, she introduced Baal worship in Israel. Ahab, influenced by Jezebel, built altars and temples for Baal, leading the people away from the God of Israel and into idolatry. This was considered one of Ahab’s greatest sins, according to the Bible.
Additionally, Jezebel not only promoted idolatry but also made cruel decisions. A clear example is the episode involving Naboth, a man who owned a vineyard that Ahab desired. When Naboth refused to sell it, Jezebel plotted his death by using false accusations so that Ahab could take possession of the vineyard.
Ahab was a weak king in the face of Jezebel’s strong personality. She manipulated the king’s decisions, promoting injustice and idolatry in Israel, which led both of them to be condemned by the prophet Elijah.
Jezebel Persecutes Elijah and God’s Prophets
Jezebel became infamous for her fierce persecution of God’s prophets, especially the prophet Elijah. When Jezebel became queen of Israel, she brought Baal worship with her and promoted pagan worship throughout the kingdom. To strengthen her influence, she began hunting down and killing God’s prophets, trying to silence any resistance to the idolatry she had introduced.
During that time, Elijah was the main prophet who opposed Jezebel and King Ahab. He directly challenged the prophets of Baal in a famous confrontation on Mount Carmel. In that event, Elijah demonstrated that the God of Israel was the true God, while the prophets of Baal failed to invoke their god. After their defeat, Elijah ordered the execution of Baal’s prophets, which enraged Jezebel.
In response, Jezebel vowed revenge against Elijah and promised to kill him. The prophet, fearing for his life, fled into the wilderness, where he asked God to let him die. However, God sustained him and encouraged him to continue his prophetic mission. Jezebel, despite her power and persecution, was unable to destroy Elijah, but her hostility marked one of the darkest periods of idolatry and violence in Israel.
After Jezebel’s many crimes, including the unjust death of Naboth, the prophet Elijah prophesied her tragic end. In 1 Kings 21:23, Elijah declared that dogs would devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. This prophecy was God’s judgment against her wickedness, her idolatry, and her persecution of God’s prophets. Years later, the prophecy was fulfilled: Jezebel was thrown from a window by her own servants, and her body was devoured by dogs.
Jezebel Plots Naboth’s Murder
We find the story of Naboth’s murder by Jezebel in 1 Kings 21. Jezebel planned Naboth’s death so that her husband, King Ahab, could take possession of his vineyard. Ahab desired Naboth’s property, but Naboth refused to sell it, as it was an inheritance from his family.
Angry, Jezebel devised an evil plan: she forged letters in Ahab’s name, ordering that Naboth be accused of blasphemy. Naboth was then taken and stoned to death. After his death, Jezebel handed the vineyard over to Ahab. This action demonstrates Jezebel’s cruelty and disregard for justice, contributing to the corruption in the kingdom of Israel.
The Meaning of the Name Jezebel
The name Jezebel in Hebrew has a controversial meaning in the Bible. The most common interpretation is that the name means “not exalted” or “not noble,” which could reflect the negative view the Israelites had of her.
Another possible interpretation, based on her Phoenician origin, links the name to Baal, the god she worshiped. In this case, Jezebel could mean something like “Baal exalts” or “Baal is prince.”
Although the name has different linguistic interpretations, Jezebel is primarily remembered for her wicked actions and negative influence, becoming a symbol of idolatry, manipulation, and evil.
What We Can Learn from the Life of Jezebel
The life of Jezebel offers important lessons about power and morality. We see how the misuse of power for manipulation and control can lead to corruption and injustice. Jezebel used her position as queen to impose her beliefs, promoting the worship of Baal and persecuting the prophets of God. This teaches us that power must be exercised with responsibility and respect for others.
Additionally, Jezebel’s story highlights the danger of idolatry. By placing Baal above the God of Israel, she led many people astray from the true faith. This reminds us of the importance of maintaining our loyalty and faith in God, regardless of external influences.
The way Jezebel treated Naboth illustrates the cruelty that can arise when pursuing personal interests without considering the consequences for others. This alerts us to the need to act with justice and compassion.
Finally, Jezebel’s death, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy, reminds us that actions have consequences. Her life is an example of how disobedience and wickedness can result in a tragic end. Therefore, we should strive to live ethically and responsibly.
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