"But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up."
Biblical Name · Phoenician Origin
Jezebel Meaning in the Bible
Jezebel
girl
Jezebel means "Where is the prince?; Unexalted", a girl's name of Phoenician origin. Jezebel appears in the King James Bible, and 1 Kings 21:25 is the passage most often tied to it. Jezebel's story is a stark warning about the destructive power of misused authority and religious corruption. Her legacy teaches that leaders who lead others away from God face the most severe divine judgment.
Is Jezebel in the Bible?
Yes — Jezebel appears in the King James Bible, including 1 Kings 21:25.
Pronunciation:/JEZ-uh-bel/
OriginPhoenician
MeaningWhere is the prince?; Unexalted
What does Jezebel mean?
Jezebel is a girl name of Phoenician origin meaning "Where is the prince?; Unexalted". Jezebel's name may mean "where is the prince?" — a reference to the Phoenician god Baal.
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Editor’s reflection
A queen's name that became an English insult — and the Hebrew behind it is a taunt already.
Jezebel (Hebrew אִיזֶבֶל) is Phoenician, most likely meaning something like 'where is the prince?' — a ritual cry in the worship of Baal. The Hebrew spelling appears to have been altered deliberately to suggest 'without nobility' or worse, so the Bible is already making a pun on her name before it tells her story.
She is the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians and the wife of Ahab (1 Kings 16:31). She imports Baal worship into Israel at state expense, kills the prophets of the LORD (1 Kings 18:4), threatens Elijah after Carmel until he runs for his life (1 Kings 19:2), and arranges the judicial murder of Naboth for the sake of a vegetable garden (1 Kings 21).
Her death is as unflinching as her life: thrown from a window, trampled, and left in the street exactly as Elijah had said (2 Kings 9:33-37). The New Testament uses her name once more, for a false teacher in the church at Thyatira (Revelation 2:20).
It is not a name given to children, and honest name pages should say so plainly. It is listed here because people search it — the meaning and the history are worth having right.
“And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down.”
What does Jezebel mean in the Bible?
Jezebel means "Where is the prince?; Unexalted" and is a name of Phoenician origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Jezebel's name may mean "where is the prince?" — a reference to the Phoenician god Baal. She was a Phoenician princess who married King Ahab of Israel and became one of the most notorious figures in Scripture, leading Israel into Baal worship and persecuting the prophets of God.
Jezebel systematically attempted to destroy the worship of Yahweh in Israel, killing the LORD's prophets and installing 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah at her royal table. She directly threatened the prophet Elijah after his victory on Mount Carmel.
Jezebel's name has become synonymous with religious corruption and manipulation. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus warns the church in Thyatira about a woman He calls "Jezebel" who teaches and seduces believers into idolatry — showing how her legacy serves as an enduring warning.
Where does Jezebel appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Jezebel is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with 1 Kings 21:25. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field."
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Which books of the Bible mention Jezebel?
Jezebel is mentioned across 3 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Jezebel?
Jezebel's story is a stark warning about the destructive power of misused authority and religious corruption. Her legacy teaches that leaders who lead others away from God face the most severe divine judgment.
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What names are related to Jezebel?
Names that pair well with Jezebel
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Jezebel
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Jezebel name meaning: frequently asked questions
Because of the queen in 1 and 2 Kings who promoted Baal worship, had prophets killed, and engineered Naboth's death — and because Revelation 2:20 reuses her name for a false teacher. The word entered English as a byword for a scheming, immoral woman.
Yes — Jezebel appears in the King James Bible, including 1 Kings 21:25.
Jezebel means "Where is the prince?; Unexalted." It is a Phoenician name. The King James Bible uses it in 1 Kings 21:25, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Jezebel
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Jezebel?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Jezebel?
You can read every verse where Jezebel appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.