If someone has ever told you, “You’re such a Jezebel,” 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).
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: A disposition, or demonic influence, that causes to create rifts in the church and in marriages through cunning, deception, and seduction.
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?
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.
We could dive into every individual Scripture that discusses who she was and what she did, but for the sake of article length, we’ll highlight a select few.
Jezebel took the throne with King Ahab during a time of political uncertainty in Israel. She worshipped foreign idols and re-introduced them to Israel (1 Kings 18), she slaughtered the Lord’s prophets (1 Kings 18:4), wrongfully killed a man to take possession of his vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-22:53), threatened to kill the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19), and murdered anyone who protested her introduction of Baal worship into the kingdom.
In short, she wasn’t a great role model.
Jezebel meets a grisly end by being thrown from a window and trampled by horses (2 Kings 9:30-37), but not before she ruined many lives.
The same seems to apply to the Jezebel spirit, that it wreaks destruction in anyone who winds up in its path.
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 someone 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.
