If you've ever heard the phrase, “She's such a Jezebel" or "that's the Jezebel Spirit" you can probably assume it wasn’t a compliment.
Jezebel, the wicked queen, and wife to the evil King Ahab had a reputation for murder, iniquity, and sexual promiscuity. She not only served as a thorn in the side of the prophet Elijah, but she also led Israel astray in their foreign worship of idols (1 Kings 18).
But is there such a thing as a Jezebel Spirit? Let's take a look at what Scripture teaches us about Jezebel and the spiritual warfare that she engaged in.
The Jezebel Spirit
Now, we may have heard of Jezebel, but not all of us have heard of something known as a Jezebel spirit. The Bible never strictly has the words Jezebel spirit, but both the Old and New Testaments have negative connotations and symbolism surrounding the name, Jezebel.
Depending on one’s background, and denomination (most often from a charismatic background) the meaning of Jezebel's spirit can differ. But we’ll go with the most overarching definition of a Jezebel spirit: A disposition, or demonic influence, that causes to create rifts in the church and in marriages through cunning, deception, and seduction.
Now let's first take a look a few questions in context to better understand this term. Who was Jezebel? Are there different types of demons and how do they operate? And where does this play into a Jezebel spirit?
Who Was Jezebel in the Bible?
Although the Bible doesn’t have any specific verses on the term “Jezebel spirit” we can read plenty about the Phoenician woman turned queen Jezebel, and nothing about her is positive. She is primarily mentioned in the books of 1 and 2 Kings, where her story unfolds alongside her husband, King Ahab of Israel.
Jezebel was a Phoenician princess, the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Sidonians. Her marriage to Ahab, king of Israel, was during a time of political uncertainty in Israel likely a political alliance designed to strengthen ties between Israel and Phoenicia. Jezebel worshipeed foreign idols - pagan deites Baal and Asherah, and she sought to re-introduce their worship in Israel, replacing the worship of Yahweh. She built altars and temples for Baal, directly opposing the Israelite prophets and leading many Israelites into idolatry (1 Kings 16:31-33).
Jezebel persecuted and slaughtering the Lord’s prophets (1 Kings 18:4), and threatened to kill the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19), and murdered anyone who protested her introduction of Baal worship into the kingdom.
One of the most notorious acts attributed to Jezebel is the plot to seize Naboth’s vineyard. When Naboth refused to sell his vineyard to Ahab, Jezebel orchestrated false charges against Naboth, leading to his execution and the unlawful acquisition of his property by Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-16).
Jezebel’s life ended violently, fulfilling the prophecy of Elijah. She was thrown from a window, trampled by horses, and her body was consumed by dogs, leaving nothing to bury, as foretold by the prophet (2 Kings 9:30-37), but not before she ruined countless lives.
It's important to note that the Bible never explicitly mentions Jezebel as being evil or possessed by a spirit. Her actions where wicked and she was used by satan to destroy God's followers, however it is her behavior that is described and not a specific spirit or demon.
Jezebel in Revelation
"Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds." - Revelation 2:20-23
In the Book of Revelation, Jezebel is mentioned in as a false prophetess in the church of Thyatira. She is accused of leading believers into sexual immorality and idol worship. Jesus condemns her influence, warning of severe consequences if she and her followers do not repent. This reference to Jezebel in the final book of the Bible symbolizes corruption and apostasy within the church, reflecting characteristics associated with the Old Testament Jezebel. The mention serves as a warning against tolerating false teachings and immoral behavior within the Christian community.
Is There a Hierarchy of Evil Spirits?
Not everyone agrees on the exact hierarchy of evil spirits, but just as there are arguably angelic ranks, Hell appears to steal the heavenly model. Even if we don’t agree on a hierarchy, we can agree that different demons appear to have different functions.
In the New Testament, some can make people mute or blind (Mark 3:20-30), others can cause those they possess to harm themselves (Mark 5:1-20).
For the sake of argument, let’s say there are different types of demons or demonic spirits (with or without a hierarchy) that have different functions.
What’s distinctive about a Jezebel spirit?
It seems to be differentiated from other spirits that are more appetite-driven since this one tends to exercise the most cunning and diplomacy. It’s diabolical in how it secretly tries to rip apart relationships and churches from the inside out.
Once again, many denominations appear to be split on the defining characteristics of this spirit, but it does seem to show traits of hatred, seduction, calculation, and manipulation, similar to Queen Jezebel herself.
What Do We Do When We Encounter a Jezebel Spirit?
Whether we encounter someone who we think has a Jezebel spirit, or simply a Christian who has gone astray and seems to display many of the traits linked above, we should do the following.
First, go to God in prayer. Ask him about discernment and how best to handle the situation with a person who has gone astray. And pray for the person who is under the influence of jealousy, hatred, and seduction.
Second, as per church disciplinary measures, we should confront the person and tell them how they have wronged us (Matthew 18:15-20). If they do have a Jezebel spirit or traits of a Jezebel spirit, they will most likely not appreciate the criticism.
Third, identify the difference between a demonic influence and a demonic possession. Consult with church leadership about identifying some key differences. A Jezebel spirit appears to fall into the category of influence, but there could be exceptions.
Trust that God will provide you with the words, tools, and Scripture to handle the situation. He can save every lost soul and bring back every prodigal son into his home.
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Hope Bolinger is an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, book editor for hire, and the author of almost 30 books. More than 1500 of her works have been featured in various publications. Check out her books at hopebolinger.com for clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. Check out her editing profile at Reedsy.com to find out about hiring her for your next book project.
