The Jezebel Jargon (and other toxic things to call a woman)

Ok church, I need some answers.

I frequently hear the phrase “the Jezebel spirit” coming from women who have been labeled that in their past. There is a common thread as I listen to their stories and it often involves a life crisis with traumatic outcomes and the inability to cope well in highly controlling environments. These women have often lived outside their window of human tolerance for many years and when the time comes that they dare to speak the truth about their life, someone comes back to call them Jezebel.

My child-like imagery flashes before me when I hear the name Jezebel and it looks like a seducing woman standing on a second floor balcony tinkling with diamonds and painted up with an erroneous amount of red makeup. As far as I know, the individuals who label women with the spirit of Jezebel are Christians who believe the bible is the ultimate authority, so here’s what we know from the biblical character Jezebel.

1. She was the wife of King Ahab and known to be wicked (1 Kings 16:29-34)
2. She promoted Baal worship and murdered many prophets, including threatening to murder Elijah (1 Kings 18)
3. She arranged the murder of Naboth so King Ahab could possess the vineyard he coveted (1 Kings 21:5-13)
4. She was thrown from a window at her death and her body was eaten by dogs (11 Kings 9:30-37)

So Jezebel was an idol worshipping murderer who met her end when her own servants pushed her out the window. It is a gruesome account and I can’t help but cringe when I read the narrative of her life.

The only other mention of a woman named Jezebel is when God is calling the church Thyatira to repentance in Revelations 2:18-29. (The name was likely used in reference to the OT Jezebel as she also seduced men into sexual immorality and eating food offered to idols). Here’s what we know about this woman Jezebel who was plaguing the church with evil.

1. She called herself a prophetess (Rev 2:20)
2. She taught and seduced believers into sexual immorality (Rev 2:20)
3. She influenced the church to eat food sacrificed to idols (Rev 2:20)

Revelations Jezebel is a woman who was actively endeavouring to teach and seduce believers into sexual immorality and eating food dedicated to idols.

What then, is this modern “Spirit of Jezebel” that seems so liberally thrown on women going through a challenging season of life? What is a Spirit? Who is Jezebel 2025? If there is a real demon called Jezebel that attaches to vulnerable women, how do we know we are afflicted, and more importantly, how do we become free? If there is a Spirit of Jezebel, is there also a Spirit of Delilah or Gomer or Herodias? Why have I never heard a man labeled with the spirit of Ahab?

Biblically, modern Jezebels would need to be murdering some prophets or seducing believers into sexual immorality. They should probably have a husband named Ahab too. I hope you can see the logical fallacies in this kind of reasoning. My personal stance, and the heart cry of this article is that it is both unbiblical and unhelpful to label anyone with a specific spirit of a wicked biblical character, especially when you are not proximal to the real pain and suffering they are facing. I have sat with many individuals who have been physically possessed with demons. I know that it is real. I have seen many beautiful deliverances. But this “she has a Jezebel Spirit” is often a distant voice of control, not a proximal voice of genuine care and curiosity.

In the NT we read many accounts of individuals delivered from demonic spirits. The only time a specific spirit is mentioned to my knowledge is in Luke 13:10-13, where Luke describes a woman afflicted with a “spirit of infirmity.” When Jesus saw this woman He calls her over to Him, then says “woman you are loosed from your infirmity” as He lays His hands on her. She was immediately healed. We see the healthy practice of Jesus first involving the will of the woman by calling her to Him, using gentle and non controlling language, and laying safe hands on her.

This Jesus is so unlike the religious leaders of today who endeavour to control and manipulate women through fast and distant labels that hurt instead of slow and personal questions that heal.

I want to clarify that I believe there are toxic women in the church today that seduce and control men. There are women who are self-proclaimed prophetesses who operate under demonic influence. These situations are complex but real, and I am not discounting their impact. Even in these cases, we are called to gently inviting them into repentance and wholeness.

What are some other unhelpful and unbiblical labels to put on women?

I have been told that an entire church group has the matriarchal spirit. I know many beautiful non-controlling women in that church group and at the least, the comment was an unkind stereotype. If it’s true, is there a demon of matriarchy sitting over the headquarters of the denomination or over every woman sitting in the pew? I’ve also heard that a spirit of feminism is corroding the church. In many cases this diagnoses is more about women trying to find a healthy voice after years of suppression. It is not a specific demon trying to control the church through a woman learning how to teach or express herself well. An even more common label is the “spirit of a harlot,” and interestingly enough the last few women who disclosed that label to me were blond, blue-eyed and beautiful.

Again, there is a common thread in all these statements. They are quick and superficial labels intended to control the situation, not understand the individual. Most often the comments come from individuals who feel intimidated and insecure in the presence of a particular woman. On YouTube you’ll find the face of a famous pastor teaching on “How to Spot the Jezebel Spirit,” the same man who resigns after admitting to sexually inappropriate behaviour. This could not be more unlike the Jesus we follow who called individuals to Him, walked closely and personally with them, and asked questions to help them understand.

The quick labels are easy to say but difficult to undo. Imagine a teenager being told she has the spirit of murder trying to understand how she got this demonic spirit and how to get rid of it and too ashamed to talk about it. Think about the beautiful girls who are trying to find their way through rough teen years hearing that men think they have a demonic spirit called “harlot” attached to them. These are the deep, corrosive labels that plaque women’s minds deep into the night of their deepest fears.

Church, if you’re not going to take the time to become theologically astute enough to explain why you’re labelling these women, please bow out. The undisciplined nature of these corrosive comments has done enough hurt in the church and I am calling every one of you to give a biblical and reasonable answer.

We are not called to label every darkness, but gently call into the light. We are not commissioned to define evil, but to overcome all the wrong in this world with a pervasive, faithful, goodness. We are not called to diagnose from our daybeds, but to lay in the dust and ashes of suffering alongside the sufferer, whispering Spirit-led hope that overcomes every dark identity.

We can let go of the Jezebel jargon and call them the names Jesus calls them.

Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash