Ἰεζάβελ G2403
Jezebel, the notorious queen of Israel; used symbolically in Revelation for a false prophetess
Jezebel was the Phoenician wife of King Ahab who promoted Baal worship in Israel and violently opposed God's prophets (1 Kings 16-21). Her name became synonymous with idolatry, sexual immorality, and persecution of the faithful. Revelation 2:20 uses her name symbolically for a woman (or movement) in Thyatira who calls herself a prophetess but teaches Christians to practice sexual immorality and eat idol-food. Whether a literal person or symbolic designation, the name evokes the Old Testament Jezebel's spiritual seduction and corruption. Translations transliterate: "Jezebel" (English), "Jezabel" (Spanish), "Isebel" (French/German), immediately signaling the idolatrous threat.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Revelation's letter to Thyatira condemns tolerating "Jezebel" (2:20)—likely a symbolic name for a false prophetess promoting syncretistic compromise (eating idol-food, sexual immorality). The historical Ἰεζάβελ (1 Kings 16:31ff) was Ahab's Phoenician queen who introduced Baal worship, killed prophets, and orchestrated Naboth's murder. Her name epitomizes idolatrous seduction and violent opposition to true worship. By invoking this name, Revelation warns that Thyatira faces a similar threat: a charismatic teacher leading believers into compromise. Translations transliterate uniformly: "Jezebel," "Jezabel," "Isebel," activating the entire Old Testament typology. 1×
AR["إيزابَلَ"]·ben["যীজেবল"]·DE["Isebel"]·EN["Iezabel"]·FR["Isebel"]·heb["אִיזֶבֶל"]·HI["इज़ेबेल,"]·ID["Izebel,"]·IT["iezabel"]·jav["Izébèl"]·KO["이세벨"]·PT["Jezabel"]·RU["Иезавель,"]·ES["Jezabel"]·SW["Yezebeli,"]·TR["İzebel"]·urd["ایزبل-کو"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Ἰεζάβελ (L, Ἰεζ-; Tr. -βέλ; Rec. -βήλ) ἡ, indecl. (Heb. אִיזֶבֶל; LXX as txt.; FlJ, Ἰεζαβέλη), Jezebel (3Ki.16:31, al.): symbolically, Rev.2:20 (see Swete, in l).† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)