2 Kings 9:37 kjv
And the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.
2 Kings 9:37 nkjv
and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, "Here lies Jezebel." ' "
2 Kings 9:37 niv
Jezebel's body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, 'This is Jezebel.'?"
2 Kings 9:37 esv
and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.'"
2 Kings 9:37 nlt
Her remains will be scattered like dung on the plot of land in Jezreel, so that no one will be able to recognize her.'"
2 Kings 9 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 21:23 | "And also concerning Jezebel the Lord said, ‘Dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.’" | Direct prophecy fulfilled. |
| Psa 83:10 | "...who perished at Endor, who became refuse on the ground." | Enemies of God made as refuse. |
| Jer 8:2 | "...and spread them before the sun and the moon... They shall not be gathered or buried..." | Bodies unburied as a curse. |
| Jer 9:22 | "...and the corpses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field..." | Direct imagery of corpses as dung on open field. |
| Jer 16:4 | "...They shall not be lamented or buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground." | No lamentation or burial, body as dung. |
| Jer 25:33 | "...they shall not be gathered or buried; they shall be dung on the face of the earth." | Widespread divine judgment, unburied as dung. |
| Deu 28:26 | "And your carcass shall be food for all birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth, with no one to frighten them away." | Law's curse for disobedience: unburied, consumed. |
| 1 Sa 17:44 | "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." | Threat of a dishonorable death by exposure. |
| Isa 55:11 | "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose..." | God's word always fulfills its purpose. |
| Psa 119:89 | "Forever, O Lord, your word is firm in the heavens." | Reliability and eternality of God's word. |
| Prov 10:7 | "The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot." | The name and legacy of the wicked perish. |
| Psa 9:5-6 | "You have rebuked the nations... You have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins..." | Divine eradication of wicked names and powers. |
| Mal 4:3 | "And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet..." | Complete humiliation and eradication of the wicked. |
| Isa 5:25 | "...and their corpses were as refuse in the midst of the streets." | Corpses becoming refuse. |
| Hab 2:16 | "...You will be filled with disgrace instead of glory. Drink yourself, and expose your nakedness!" | Disgrace and humiliation for the oppressor. |
| Rev 2:20-23 | "...I tolerate that woman Jezebel... I will throw her onto a sickbed... and I will strike her children dead." | Symbolic continuation of Jezebel's judgment on spiritual idolatry. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" | Divine justice and vengeance. |
| Heb 10:30 | "For we know him who said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay.'" | Echo of divine retribution for sin. |
| Nah 3:5-6 | "...I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt..." | Divine judgment includes contempt and defilement for the wicked. |
| Eze 32:4 | "...I will leave you on the land; I will fling you on the open field..." | Another prophetic image of a powerful foe unburied on open ground. |
| Lam 2:21 | "...youths and maidens have fallen by the sword... In the streets they lie prostrate..." | Bodies unburied and dishonored in public places due to judgment. |
| 2 Ki 9:36 | "This is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elijah... 'In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel.'" | Immediate preceding verse confirming prophecy's source. |
2 Kings 9 verses
2 Kings 9 37 Meaning
The verse declares the complete and utter degradation of Jezebel's remains, fulfilling prophecy. Her corpse was to become mere refuse, like dung, scattered on the open ground in Jezreel. This pronounced her complete dishonor, denial of proper burial, and the obliteration of any recognized memory or legacy, symbolizing a definitive divine judgment upon her and her wickedness.
2 Kings 9 37 Context
This verse immediately follows the description of Jezebel's violent death by Jehu's command. Jehu, newly anointed king to fulfill divine judgment against the house of Ahab, ensures that Elijah's prophecy regarding Jezebel (1 Ki 21:23) is perfectly executed. Initially, Jehu commands that she be buried due to her royal status as a king's daughter, but upon discovering that nearly her entire body had been consumed by dogs, he recognized the complete fulfillment of the divine word. The cultural context emphasizes the supreme importance of proper burial for honor and dignity. To be left unburied, scattered as dung, and consumed by animals was the ultimate humiliation and a clear sign of severe divine judgment. The mention of "Jezreel" specifically points to the site of Ahab and Jezebel's gravest sin, the murder of Naboth and seizure of his vineyard, highlighting divine precision in judgment.
2 Kings 9 37 Word analysis
- And the corpse (נֶפֶל - nephel) of Jezebel: The term
nepheltypically means an untimely birth or abortion, used here to describe a carcass or something discarded, emphasizing Jezebel's utter devaluing. She, a powerful queen, is reduced to a discarded, defiled object. - shall be as dung (דֹּמֶן - dômen):
Domenliterally means excrement or manure. This image conveys the deepest possible disgrace, defilement, and worthlessness. Her body is equated with waste, illustrating extreme contempt and desecration. - on the face of the field: Implies full exposure, lack of burial, and a public spectacle of dishonor. Not buried in consecrated ground or even in a common grave, but exposed to the elements and wild animals.
- in the portion (חֵלֶק - cheleq) of Jezreel:
Cheleqsignifies a specific lot, territory, or inheritance. This emphasizes the precise location where Elijah's prophecy was to be fulfilled. It directly connects Jezebel's fate to her previous sin regarding Naboth's vineyard in Jezreel (1 Ki 21), demonstrating God's meticulous justice. - so that no one can say,: This phrase highlights the complete effacement of her identity and memorial. It signifies an intentional, profound obliteration of her name and existence from memory in any honorable way.
- 'This is Jezebel.': Her unique identity is annihilated, her physical remains are indistinguishable, preventing any future identification, memorial, or honor associated with her name. It seals her judgment, removing any lasting vestige of her presence or influence.
Words-group analysis:
- "the corpse of Jezebel... shall be as dung": This dramatic juxtaposition emphasizes her fall from royal splendor to utter degradation. It highlights the vast difference between her former pride and her final humiliating state, a direct consequence of her actions against Yahweh.
- "on the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel": This details the specific method and location of judgment. It is public, utterly exposed, and carried out on the very ground associated with her profound wickedness, showcasing God's precise and proportional justice.
- "so that no one can say, 'This is Jezebel.'": This phrase speaks to the complete eradication of her memory and the reversal of any attempt she might have made to leave an idolatrous legacy. It means her identity would be forgotten in the land she sought to corrupt.
2 Kings 9 37 Bonus section
- The prophetic precision concerning Jezebel's body being consumed by dogs and becoming like dung on the ground contrasts sharply with the customary reverence for burial in ancient Near Eastern cultures. This detail underscored the severity of her divine curse and dishonor beyond imagination.
- Jezebel's symbolic presence echoes in the New Testament, notably in Rev 2:20-23, where a false prophetess leading the church in Thyatira astray into idolatry and immorality is allegorically referred to as "Jezebel." This shows that her legacy represents a type of spiritual idolatry and deception that continues to operate, albeit in a spiritual rather than political sense. Her judgment, then and now, remains a call to repentance and fidelity to God.
- The phrase "no one can say, 'This is Jezebel'" implies not just the physical indistinguishability of her remains, but a divine decree against any form of lasting memorial, shrine, or recognition. It completely invalidated her impact and reign of terror, cleansing the land from her defiling presence.
2 Kings 9 37 Commentary
2 Kings 9:37 vividly describes the consummation of divine judgment against Jezebel, embodying God's unyielding opposition to idolatry and evil. Her violent end, followed by the scattering of her remains as common refuse in Jezreel, fulfilled Elijah's powerful prophecy (1 Ki 21:23). This outcome underscores several profound truths: the unwavering faithfulness of God to His Word, as not a single detail of the prophecy remained unfulfilled; the absolute abhorrence of God for sin, particularly idolatry and the persecution of His people; and the ultimate consequence for those who defy Him. Jezebel's demise was not merely a political assassination but a theological statement by God Himself, demonstrating that earthly power, pomp, and idolatrous practices ultimately yield to divine justice. Her name and very physical form were blotted out, serving as a powerful warning against opposing the living God and His covenant.