When you hear the name Jezebel, what comes to mind?
For many, the name stirs up thoughts of manipulation, seduction, spiritual rebellion, or destruction. Jezebel is one of the most infamous women in the Bible, not because she had influence, but because of how she wielded it.
Jezebel’s legacy still echoes through generations as a warning—one we’re often quick to distance ourselves from. However, what if Jezebel’s story is not just a story to condemn, but an invitation for us to take a closer look at the ways we use our influence, lead with emotion, or respond when challenged?
In today’s world, where women are navigating leadership, identity, and emotional complexity, Jezebel’s story offers more than a history lesson—it offers us a mirror. As James 1:23–24 teaches, God’s Word serves as a mirror, not just for seeing our outward appearance, but also for revealing our inner character and spiritual state.
By carefully studying and applying this reflection, we can see ourselves more clearly, edify others, and grow spiritually.
Who Was Jezebel in the Bible?
Jezebel was a Phoenician princess and the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. She married Ahab, king of Israel, and with that union, she brought the worship of Baal into Israel (1 Kings 16:31). She aggressively promoted Baal worship, silenced the prophets of God (1 Kings 18:4), and personally threatened Elijah’s life (1 Kings 19:1–2). She also manipulated the legal system to murder Naboth and seize his land and vineyard for her husband, King Ahab (1 Kings 21:1–16).
Her influence was both personal and political––and devastating.
In 2 Kings 9, her death was not just a dramatic ending, but a judgment on a life of unrepentant rebellion. And in Revelation 2:20–21, Jesus uses her name symbolically to rebuke a church for tolerating corrupt spiritual influence:
“You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching, she misleads my servants…. I have given her time to repent … but she is unwilling.” (NIV)
It’s evident that her legacy is serious. But rather than dismissing her as someone we could never relate to, the Bible invites us to learn from her. Let us reflect on what her story can teach us about personal growth, spiritual alignment, and authentic leadership.
What the Bible Reveals About Jezebel’s Character Traits
Let’s look closer at what Scripture reveals about Jezebel’s character to better understand the traits commonly associated with her name:
- Strong-willed and persuasive: She persuaded Ahab to act against God’s laws (1 Kings 21:7).
- Highly influential, especially over her husband, but unanchored in godly wisdom: Her leadership promoted Baal worship and led a nation astray (1 Kings 16:31–33).
- Emotionally intense and reactive: After Elijah’s victory at Mount Carmel, she responded with threats and rage (1 Kings 19:2).
- Unapologetically committed to her own agenda: She manipulated a legal case and murdered Naboth for a vineyard (1 Kings 21:7–14).
- Unwilling to self-correct or listen to opposing views: Even when warned by prophets and judged by God, she refused to change (2 Kings 9:30–37).
- Unrepentant: Though given both time and opportunity, she refused to acknowledge and turn from her sin against God and His people (Rev. 2:21).
Anytime influence is driven by fear, control, or hidden motives, it risks harming others and ourselves.
Jezebel’s story highlights how unprocessed ambition, emotional reactivity, or unchecked influence can lead us out of alignment with wisdom and truth. These traits, when rooted in self-protection, fear, or pride, can lead us away from godly influence and toward spiritual harm. However, with more self-awareness and humility, we can grow beyond these destructive attributes.
Why Jezebel’s Story Still Matters Today
Most modern Christian women don’t walk around orchestrating idol worship or royal assassinations. So how could Jezebel’s story possibly relate to any of us?
It’s because the heart postures behind her actions can still show up in our lives in subtle ways. We combat them by:
- Recognizing and releasing the temptation to control a situation and instead trusting through faith.
- Resisting the use of influence to produce an outcome and seeking to uplift and empower others.
- Embracing vulnerability, accepting the truth, and opening our hearts to repentance.
Rather than dismissing Jezebel as someone we could never relate to, we’re invited to ask:
Where might a little of her reside in us, unchecked and unnoticed?
Where Self-Awareness Meets Scripture
The Bible often holds up stories like Jezebel’s to provoke reflection. Here are some self-awareness prompts that help us hold the mirror up, not in shame, but in spiritual maturity:
- Do I confuse control with care? Sometimes, in trying to protect or manage others or ourselves, we start taking God’s place (self-reliance) instead of trusting Him (surrendering ourselves). Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”
- Am I using my voice to build up or to sway others to my will? Jezebel used her voice of influence to silence truth. We’re called to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
- What’s driving my decisions—fear, pride, unresolved pain, or faith? Our influence is healthiest when rooted in wholeness, not past (or current) wounds. Psalm 139:23 says, “Search me, O God … test me and know my anxious thoughts” (NIV).
- How do I respond to correction? Jezebel refused to repent. Growth often starts with a willingness to be wrong. Proverbs 15:31 says, “The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.”
Emotional Intelligence: What Jezebel Lacked and What We Can Learn
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions—our own and others’. Jezebel’s responses to Elijah, Naboth, and even her own impending death show impulsivity, emotional avoidance, and a refusal to regulate fear or anger.
As we continue to grow in spiritual maturity, we learn to:
- Pause before reacting. We are “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19).
- Process our emotions privately with God before bringing them to others. Even Jesus prayed alone before making major decisions (Luke 6:12–13).
- Recognize when hurt is fueling control. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard our hearts—because the “springs of life” flow from them.
Practical Applications: What Jezebel’s Story Teaches Spirit-Led Women
You don’t need to fear Jezebel’s story. You can learn from it. Here’s how:
- Anchor your influence in the Word. Let Scripture be your filter. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word discerns “thoughts and intentions.” Regularly invite God to reveal your motives.
- Cultivate safe, wise counsel. Jezebel operated in isolation. We grow best in community (Prov. 27:6). Surround yourself with spiritually mature women who can speak into blind spots.
- Reflect with emotional maturity and repent without shame. Repentance is a rhythm, not a one-time event. We are to grow in patience, active listening, and emotional honesty. James 1:22 reminds us not just to hear the Word, but to do what it says.
Questions for Self-Reflection
The story of Jezebel in the Bible isn’t just about one woman’s rebellion—it’s an opportunity for introspection for any of us who want to steward influence well, lead with integrity, and grow spiritually.
Her story helps us ask the hard but necessary questions about what kind of women we’re becoming and what we’re allowing to shape us.
As you process Jezebel’s story, grab your journal and reflect on the following questions:
- What area of my life am I tempted to control instead of trusting God?
- What wounds or emotions do I need to bring into God’s light?
- How do I handle being challenged or corrected by others?
- How do I respond to input, feedback, or accountability because it feels like a threat?
- Who has permission to challenge my blind spots and be honest with me?
- What does a healthy, Spirit-led influence look like for me right now?
Again, you don’t need to fear becoming “a Jezebel.” God is not looking for perfection. He’s looking for willing hearts, clear eyes, and women who say, “Search me, Lord. Shape me. Use me.”
Continue becoming strong and surrendered, wise and willing to change, bold and biblically rooted.
Ready to Be Inspired by Even More Great Women of the Bible?
After you’ve had a chance to prayerfully reflect on the story of the story of Jezebel in the Bible, be sure to check out these related articles for even more encouraging stories and lessons from the famous women of the Bible!
- Lessons from Sarah in the Bible: Trusting God Through the Wait
- The Story of Rachel Reminds Us to Pray, Trust, and Wait
- Deborah’s Enduring Example of Service
Visit this link to find a complete list of all the Women of the Bible we’ve covered so far on the Esther Press website. Alternately, find our favorite Bible Studies about the Women in the Bible here.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
