אִיזֶבֶל
Izebel, the wife of king Ahab
Definition
Izebel (Jezebel) is the infamous Phoenician princess who became queen of Israel through her marriage to King Ahab (1 Kings 16:31). In the biblical narrative, she is primarily depicted as a zealous promoter of Baal worship, actively opposing the prophets of Yahweh and orchestrating the murder of Naboth to seize his vineyard (1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 21:7-15). Her name later becomes a byword for idolatry, sexual immorality, and false prophecy, as seen in the New Testament's metaphorical use in Revelation 2:20.
Biblical Usage
The name אִיזֶבֶל is used exclusively in the historical books of 1 and 2 Kings, appearing 19 times. It is consistently used to refer to the queen herself, with the narrative focusing on her role in promoting idolatry (1 Kings 18:19), persecuting Yahweh's prophets (1 Kings 18:4, 13), manipulating royal power (1 Kings 21:5-7), and threatening the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-2). Her death is recorded in 2 Kings 9:30-37, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy.
Etymology
The name is likely a compound of two elements. The first part, אִי (ʼî, H336), can mean 'where is?' or function as a negative particle ('not'). The second part is זְבֻל (zᵉbul, H2083), meaning 'exalted one' or 'prince.' Thus, the name may mean 'Where is the Prince?' (a possible ritual lament for a dying god like Baal) or 'Not Exalted.' Given her Phoenician origin, it is probably a theophoric name referencing the Canaanite god Baal, though the biblical authors may have reinterpreted it pejoratively.
Semantic Range
Jezebel represents the archetypal antagonist to covenant faithfulness in Israel. Her story is central to the biblical theme of the conflict between Yahweh and Baal, highlighting the dangers of religious syncretism, the corruption of power, and the persecution of God's messengers. Understanding her Hebrew name and narrative enriches the reading of prophetic condemnation and the New Testament's use of 'Jezebel' as a symbol for seductive false teaching and idolatry within the church (Revelation 2:20).
As a Phoenician princess from Sidon, Jezebel brought the worship of her native deities, Baal and Asherah, into the royal court of Israel (1 Kings 16:31-33). This was a direct political and religious challenge to the exclusive worship of Yahweh demanded by the Mosaic covenant. Her actions, such as maintaining 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:19), would have been seen as a legitimate exercise of royal patronage in her own culture but were treasonous from the perspective of the biblical authors and the Yahwistic prophets.
No direct synonyms as a proper name. Thematically related to: עֲתַלְיָה (ʻAthalyâh, H6271) — another queen who promoted idolatry and seized power in Judah (2 Kings 11).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →