Place
Jezreel
Gustave Doré, La Sainte Bible (Tours: Alfred Mame et fils, 1866). Public domain.
1-kings2-kings
Summary
Ahab's summer capital beside Naboth's vineyard; the city of the dogs' prophecy, where Jezebel fell and Jehu's wheels rolled.
- Jezreel names both a city, Ahab's second capital, and the broad valley it stands beside.
- Naboth was murdered here for his vineyard, and Elijah pronounced a sentence at the same wall where he died.
- Jehu carried out that sentence exactly: Joram killed on Naboth's own plot, and Jezebel eaten by dogs as foretold.
- Hosea names his own son Jezreel, first as judgment on the house of Jehu for the blood spilled here, then as the sign of God's own sowing and mercy.
- The valley is the flat corridor between Galilee and Samaria; Revelation 16:16 names a place called Armageddon at its western edge, and this page states only what Revelation itself says.
On this page
In Scripture
- Verses
- 37
- Books
- 9
Near Jezreel
- Shunem5.5 km · 3.4 mi N
- Nain8.5 km · 5.3 mi N
- Mount Gilboa8.9 km · 5.5 mi SE
- Mount Tabor16 km · 9.7 mi N
- Nazareth17 km · 11 mi N
- Dothan21 km · 13 mi SW
Straight-line distances, computed from the gazetteer coordinates.
Where it is
the country around it
- Coordinates
- 32.5560° N, 35.3308° Efind it on the Atlas →
- Region
- Northern Israel
- Kind of place
- City
2 places the record names with Jezreel, the farthest 33 km away
- 1Jezreel named in Issachar's allotmentJoshua 19:18 · 5.5 kmTheir territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
- 2Naboth's vineyard, next to Ahab's palace1 Kings 21:1 · 33 kmSome time later, Naboth the Jezreelite happened to own a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
- Located: the gazetteer fixes one site
- Placed: the point stands for an area, or is rounded
- A dashed line ends at a place the gazetteer does not fix
Why Jezreel matters
Jezreel is where a king wanted a vegetable garden and a family paid for it with their lives. Naboth would not sell the land his fathers left him, so Jezebel forged letters in Ahab's name, had two false witnesses accuse him of cursing God and the king, and had him stoned outside the city. Ahab walked down and took the vineyard the same day.
Elijah met him there. The sentence he gave named the ground itself: in the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs would lick up Ahab's, and dogs would devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Ahab tore his clothes and humbled himself, and God delayed the sentence to his son's reign, but did not lift it.
That delay ended at the same city. Jehu, anointed at the LORD's own command to strike down Ahab's house, rode to Jezreel and killed Joram on the exact plot of Naboth's vineyard, naming the old sentence as he did it. Jezebel painted her face and looked down from a window as Jehu arrived; at his order she was thrown down, and dogs left nothing of her but her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands, exactly as Elijah had said years before.
Jehu did not stop there. He had the seventy sons of Ahab in Samaria beheaded and their heads brought to him at Jezreel, then killed everyone left of the household in the city. Scripture holds two things together without softening either: the sentence on Ahab's house was just, and Jehu's own excess in carrying it out was itself judged later.
That judgment comes through Hosea. God tells the prophet to name his son Jezreel, because the LORD would soon bring the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu and end the kingdom of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel. The same name, which means God sows, returns later in the same book as blessing: God will sow Israel as his own in the land, and say to those called Not My People, you are my people.
The valley is also where Elijah once ran ahead of Ahab's chariot in the rain after the contest on Carmel, and where Israel camped by a spring before the battle that killed Saul. One name carries a spring, a vineyard, a murder, a sentence kept to the letter, and a mercy sown back into the same ground.
Naboth's vineyard, and the sentence that came due
1 Kings 21 and 2 Kings 9, in the order it happens
Read 1 Kings 21 and 2 Kings 9, in the order it happens
- Naboth refuses to sell his inheritance1 Kings 21:3But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”
- Jezebel's forged letters1 Kings 21:8Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
- Naboth stoned on a false charge1 Kings 21:13And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
- Elijah's sentence at the vineyard1 Kings 21:19Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”
- The same sentence added for Jezebel1 Kings 21:23And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
- The sentence named again at Jehu's anointing2 Kings 9:10And on the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour Jezebel, and there will be no one to bury her.’” Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.
- Joram killed on Naboth's own plot2 Kings 9:26‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday, declares the LORD, so will I repay you on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.’ Now then, according to the word of the LORD, pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground.”
- Jezebel's death, exactly as foretold2 Kings 9:36So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel.
Hosea 1:4 names a further reckoning: judgment falls on the house of Jehu for the blood spilled carrying out this very sentence, even though 2 Kings 9:6-10 records Jehu acting on a word from the LORD through Elisha's own servant.
Naboth's Vineyard: the full studyWhat happened here, in order
in the order the canon tells it
- Jezreel named in Issachar's allotmentJoshua 19:18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
- Israel camps by the spring at Jezreel1 Samuel 29:1Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
- Elijah runs to Jezreel ahead of Ahab1 Kings 18:46And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
- Naboth's vineyard, next to Ahab's palace1 Kings 21:1Some time later, Naboth the Jezreelite happened to own a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
- Jehu rides for Jezreel2 Kings 9:16Then Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram was laid up there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.
- Jezebel looks down from her window2 Kings 9:30Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window.
- Jehu writes to the officials of Jezreel2 Kings 10:1Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying:
- The seventy sons of Ahab beheaded2 Kings 10:7And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.
- Jehu kills everyone left of Ahab's house2 Kings 10:11So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.
- Hosea names his son Jezreel, as judgment on Jehu's houseHosea 1:4Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.
- The bow of Israel broken in the Valley of JezreelHosea 1:5And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
- The same name returns as mercy sown backHosea 2:23And I will sow her as My own in the land, and I will have compassion on ‘No Compassion.’ I will say to those called ‘Not My People,’ ‘You are My people,’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”
Jezreel in Scripture
37 verses name it, in 9 books
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible.
First namedJoshua 15:56Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,Last namedHosea 2:22And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and oil, and they will respond to Jezreel.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament9 books · 37 mentions
Joshua3 mentions
- Joshua 15:56Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
- Joshua 17:16“The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both in Beth-shean with its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.”
- Joshua 19:18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
Judges1 mention
1 Samuel5 mentions
- 1 Samuel 25:43David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives.
- 1 Samuel 27:3David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.
- 1 Samuel 29:1Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
- 1 Samuel 29:11So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
- 1 Samuel 30:5David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken captive.
2 Samuel4 mentions
- 2 Samuel 2:2So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
- 2 Samuel 2:9and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.
- 2 Samuel 3:2And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
- 2 Samuel 4:4And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
1 Kings5 mentions
- 1 Kings 4:12Baana son of Ahilud in Taanach, in Megiddo, and in all of Beth-shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and on past Jokmeam;
- 1 Kings 18:45Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
- 1 Kings 18:46And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
- 1 Kings 21:1Some time later, Naboth the Jezreelite happened to own a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
- 1 Kings 21:23And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
2 Kings12 mentions
- 2 Kings 8:29So King Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.
- 2 Kings 9:10And on the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour Jezebel, and there will be no one to bury her.’” Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.
- 2 Kings 9:15but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had suffered at the hands of the Arameans in the battle against Hazael their king.) So Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then do not let anyone escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.”
- 2 Kings 9:16Then Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram was laid up there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.
- 2 Kings 9:17Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”
- 2 Kings 9:30Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window.
- 2 Kings 9:36So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel.
- 2 Kings 9:37And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’”
4 further mentions in 2 Kings, read them in the book.
1 Chronicles2 mentions
2 Chronicles1 mention
Hosea4 mentions
- Hosea 1:4Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.
- Hosea 1:5And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
- Hosea 1:11Then the people of Judah and of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and will go up out of the land. For great will be the day of Jezreel.
- Hosea 2:22And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and oil, and they will respond to Jezreel.
Common questions
Is Jezreel a city or a valley?
Both. The city sat at the eastern edge of the valley and gave the whole valley its name. Scripture uses Jezreel for each, and the surrounding verse decides which one is meant.
Why did Elijah name the wall of Jezreel specifically in his sentence on Jezebel?
Because that is where Naboth was murdered. 1 Kings 21:19 and 21:23 make the punishment answer the crime at the same ground where it happened.
Did Jehu do wrong by carrying out God's sentence on Ahab's house?
Hosea 1:4 says judgment falls on Jehu's own house for the bloodshed of Jezreel, even though 2 Kings 9 records Jehu acting on a word delivered through Elisha's servant. Scripture holds both together: the sentence on Ahab's house was just, and Jehu's excess in carrying it out was judged in turn.
Does the name Jezreel mean anything?
Yes, God sows. Hosea uses the same word first for the city of bloodshed and then, later in the same book, for the sign of God's own mercy sown back into the land.
Is the Jezreel valley the same place as Armageddon?
Revelation 16:16 names a place called Armageddon in Hebrew, built from the words for mountain and Megiddo, a site on the western edge of this same valley. This page states only what Revelation itself says and draws no further application from it.
Has Tel Jezreel been excavated?
Yes. David Ussishkin and John Woodhead excavated the site for seven seasons from 1990 to 1996, for Tel Aviv University and the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem. They found a large rectangular walled enclosure with a moat and a gate, built in the ninth century BC under Omri and Ahab, with no houses inside it, fitting its use as a fortified military and royal base rather than an ordinary town. No population figure for ancient Jezreel is established by that work.
Notable art
1 verified piece depicting Jezreel
Sources cited
- OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding: Jezreel 2read 2026-08-20The coordinates on this page. Used under CC-BY with attribution to OpenBible.info.
- Gustave Doré, La Sainte BibleTours: Alfred Mame et fils, 1866. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
- The Jezreel Expedition, Earlier Research (Ussishkin and Woodhead excavations, 1990-1996)The excavation dates, directors and the Omride royal enclosure described in the common questions.
Keep studying
On this page
Studies3
Books that name it8
Lives that run through it3
Doorway2
Keep this page