How the Myth of a “Jezebel Spirit” Hurts Women

It’s making the rounds on social media again. If you’ve been around Charismatic/Pentecostal circles long enough, you’ve no doubt heard of an evil spiritual entity called the “Jezebel spirit.”

Stories circulate about the damage this demon has done to churches and individuals. Numerous books and sermons pontificate about it.

Formerly disgraced pastor Mark Driscoll rebuked what he called the “Jezebel spirit” at a recent men’s conference. Not coincidentally, Driscoll is marketing a book on the topic.

The notion of a Jezebel spirit has circulated for decades. It began as a means for denigrating and subjugating women. It continues to do so. But is this notion biblical?

The name Jezebel appears in only two places in the Bible.

In 1 Kings 16-21 and 2 Kings 9, King Ahab of Israel marries Jezebel, a pagan princess who becomes Israel’s most notoriously wicked queen.

Revelation 2:18-29 contains a warning to believers at the church in Thyatira not to follow the teachings of the false prophet Jezebel, who seduces people into sexual immorality.

The main theory about the Jezebel spirit is that it looks for a leader to control and manipulate and/or seduce, with Ahab and Jezebel as the (alleged) archetypal couple.

Before we go any further, allow me to clarify that I believe in a personal devil and evil spirits (demons).

I believe it’s appropriate to refer to a demon by its job description, as when Jesus commanded a “mute and deaf” spirit to come out of a man (Mark 9:25).

I’ve been immersed in church culture all my life. I’ve witnessed spirits of greed, jealousy, division, and lust for power and control driving people prone to such temptations.

The devil’s end goal is to destroy Christians any way he can, whether by exploiting an individual’s weaknesses or splitting a church.

That said, I also believe people possess a sinful nature. Human selfishness is enough cause for many of our problems all on its own.

Just before it was discovered he’d covered up decades of sexual abuse against multiple women, IHOP leader Mike Bickle claimed he dreamed about a demon attacking him.

This was nothing less than a plea for sympathy to try to save face despite egregious sin. Demonic attack? Nah, more like a smokescreen.

As for Queen Jezebel causing Ahab to do evil, Ahab proved himself to be the very worst of all of Israel’s kings even before Jezebel came along. Marrying a Baal-worshiper and following her god simply added to his wicked deeds.

Here’s the thing: In the Old Testament, people are often named after false gods, but evil spirits are not named after human beings. In the New Testament, the only named evil spirit is the devil (Satan, Beelzebub, Belial).

There’s no biblical basis for the existence of a specific demon named Jezebel.

Why don’t we talk about a “Judas spirit” that works by getting close to a leader, then betraying him? Or how about an “Absalom spirit” that works by stealing the hearts of the people away from devotion to their rightful leader?

There’s no good reason to focus on just one evil feminine persona and build an entire (spurious) doctrine on it.

But there are plenty of good reasons to stop perpetuating this kind of bad theology:

• The name Jezebel implies women are more easily influenced by evil spirits.
• Giving it a female name implies it is feminine in essence and that men with this spirit are an exception to the rule. (People even call it “her.”)
• The notion perpetuates the false teaching that women are the origin of all evil. In truth, men have committed horrible sins without the influence of women—and men have perpetrated much evil upon women. (Consider the hundreds of victims, almost all female, speaking up about sexual and spiritual abuse by male church leaders within the Southern Baptist Convention.)
• The term “Jezebel” is an unfair threat too often held over the heads of godly women gifted with leadership ability. Please—a woman who speaks confidently and not deferentially shouldn’t be compared to a bloodthirsty, idol-worshiping, murderous psychopath.

Let’s do away this unbiblical term which is so hurtful to women.

Let’s stop labeling our strong sisters. Instead, let’s listen to them, respect them, and support them.

You know, like Jesus.

(Some of these insights are gleaned from Dr. Jackie Johns, Pentecostal seminary professor, from a March 2021 post on his “just a thought” Facebook page.)

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