A wicked woman in the Old Testament from the land of Phoenicia. She was the wife of Ahab (1 Kgs. 16: 30-31), a king of Israel who reigned while Elijah was prophet.

Jezebel’s marriage to Ahab, more than any other single event, caused the downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel; Jezebel introduced into Israel the worst forms of idol worship from her land in place of the worship of Jehovah (1 Kgs. 18: 13, 19).

Jezebel killed many of God’s prophets, 1 Kgs. 18: 4. Jezebel tried to kill Elijah, 1 Kgs. 19: 1-3. Jezebel’s wickedness ended with her terrible death, 2 Kgs. 9: 30-37.