Jezebel (Bible)
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Jezebel (אִיזֶבֶל / אִיזָבֶל ("not exalted") Standard Hebrew Izével/Izável, Tiberian Hebrew, ʾÎzéḇel / ʾÎzāḇel) is the name of two women in the Bible.
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In the Hebrew Bible
In the Hebrew Bible, Jezebel is a queen of ancient Israel, whose story is told in 1 Kings. The author introduces her as a Phoenician princess, the daughter of King Ithobaal I of Tyre, who marries King Ahab. She turns Ahab away from the true God, and towards the worship of her god, Baal. The two then allow temples of Baal to open in Israel. Jezebel uses her control over Ahab to subject Israel to tyranny. After she slaughters the prophets of the Lord, the prophet Elijah confronts her to charge her with abominations. She responds by threatening to kill him as well. After Ahab's death, Jezebel continues to rule through her son Ahaziah. When Ahaziah is killed in battle, she exercises control through her other son, Joram. Joram is killed by Jehu, who confronts Jezebel in Jezreel and urges her servants to kill her by defenestration. They comply, and her corpse is left in the street to be eaten by dogs, in fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy.In the New Testament
In the New Testament, Jezebel is a prophetess in the city of Thyatira. She is accused in Revelation 2:20 of inducing members of the church there to commit acts of sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. Some authorities suggest that the author here uses the name Jezebel as a nickname, knowing that readers in Thyatira would know to whom it was being referred, and they would also know of the deeds of the previous Jezebel recorded in 1 Kings.Carthage
Jezebel is said to be the great aunt of Queen Dido, founder of Carthage.Jezebel in modern culture
The name Jezebel has come down through the centuries to be used as a general name for all wicked women. Jezebel is portrayed in modern usage as a controlling whore in such phrases as "painted Jezebel." (The "painted" part refers to [a line] in 1 Kings, just before she is defenestrated, where she puts on her makeup). Christians have used her name to refer to those who deny God even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. While it is often negative in connotation, some embrace the image, as evidenced by various lingerie designs named after Jezebel.
- Pioneer Virginia gospel/pop quartet of the '30s and '40s, The Golden Gate Quartet recorded a song titled "Jezebel" on their Rock My Soul album; the song reflects the story of Jezebel, and was re-recorded and adapted for Recoil's album Liquid (March 2000).
- Frankie Laine had a big pop hit in 1951 with a song called Jezebel.
- Indie musician Sam Beam (aka Iron & Wine) recorded a song somewhat sympathetic to Jezebel on his Woman King EP.
- Nathan Price mentions and compares his daughter to Jezebel in the novel The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
- British grime artist Dizzee Rascal recorded a song titled "Jezebel" on his debut album Boy In Da Corner; it is a tale of a young girl and the choices she makes.
- Nigerian singer Sade Adu (Sade) also recorded a song titled "Jezebel" on her Promise album in 1985 about a girl who knows how to get what she wants.
- The American band 10,000 Maniacs also recorded a song titled "Jezebel" on their 1992 album Our Time on Eden, concerning Jezebel's regrets about the inexorability of her mission.
- In Tom Robbins's novel Skinny Legs and All, Jezebel is presented as a down to earth, sympathetic, and strong female character.
- In Memories by Leonard Cohen, Jezebel is mentioned as being sung about by Frankie Lane in a dance club.
- Joni Mitchell's song "Magdalene Laundries" from her album Turbulent Indigo, along with many other biblical references, alludes to Jezebel.
- Sarah Jane Ferridge, a.k.a Sarah Jezebel Deva is an English singer who has collaborated with bands like Cradle of Filth and Mortiis.
- My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, a 1981 album by Brian Eno and David Byrne, features a track called The Jezebel Spirit, which contains a sample of Jezebel being mentioned during an exorcism performed by a preacher.
- In the 1997 Jim Carrey movie Liar Liar, Carrey and co-star Swoosie Kurtz are involved in a courtroom argument that degenerates into name-calling. The dialogue in the released version of the film begins with Kurtz objecting to one of Carrey's character's points, Carrey saying "You would," Kurtz calling him "Bastard," with Carrey finally calling Kurtz "Hag" before Jason Bernard's "Judge Stevens" harshly reprimands them both. In the gag reel on the DVD, Kurtz continues with "Overactor" before Bernard has a chance to begin his dialogue, to which Carrey responds "Jezebel" as the entire set breaks down in laughter.
- In the Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy, The Wedding Planner, drunk Lopez's character mumbles that "Jezebel is the only queen in the Bible to be eaten by dogs."
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