To be clear right up front, I believe the whole “Jezebel Spirit” trend is hogwash used to brighten up some seriously dingy and sexist thinking. Just a few years ago, the term most often used was “bitter,” but I guess it’s lost its bite, so they’ve adopted this new appellation instead. It’s meant to demean, belittle, and injure.

As for the real Jezebel, anyone with basic Bible knowledge understands that she was a historical queen of Israel in the Old Testament and a metaphorical preacher in one verse in the New Testament. (You can read about her in I Kings 16:31; I Kings 18, 19, 21; 2 Kings 9; and Revelation 2:20.)

Jezebel was awful, but she hardly worked alone. Her husband Ahab (and his father before him) was already evil when their fathers arranged their marriage. Whenever Ahab had a bad idea (like murder), he knew his wife would stand by his side and cheer him on. He ran the country while Jezebel, always the submissive and obedient wife, ran the home. Between the two of them, they completely displaced the laws of God, made Ba’al worship the religion of the land, and threatened a painful death to anyone objecting to their leadership.

Ironically, we’re seeing this kind of displacement taking place today. Social media is full of “Christian” leaders who have started emulating Ahab. They’ve put themselves in positions of power and openly criticize, name-call, and even wish death upon those who question their unbiblical teaching and behaviors. The primary practices being called into question are the coverup of sexual abuse and the unchecked sexism spewed from pulpits that hurt their most susceptible members.

People are speaking up against these leaders and their organizations to create churches that will be safe spaces for everyone. The Ahab-like leaders don’t like being questioned or confronted. Ironically, they’ve called those who object to their evil deeds Jezebels.

 It doesn’t make much sense. Jezebel supported evil done by her “anointed” leader. She wasn’t a rebel of the system she was in.

So, instead of using the label “Jezebel,” I’d like to offer more accurate alternatives to describe godly women and men who stand up against the Ahabs of our day.

The “spirit” of Deborah and Jael

Deborah led the people of Israel, dispersing the truth of God’s laws as a God-appointed judge. She was chosen, not because no man was available, but because she was the perfect person to lead the nation. When she called Barak to lead the troops, she went with him to recruit fighters and stood with him at the Kishon River to order the attack.

Jael was the second of the one-two punch against Sisera—the general serving under King Jabin who was infamous for attacking people on the freeways (effectively stopping commerce, creating famine) and at wells (preventing people from getting necessary water) while also creating a system of human trafficking.

Jael’s husband was an ally of King Jabin and told Sisera where to find Barak. When Sisera’s army was wiped out, only Barak escaped. He sought comfort in Jael’s tent, making demands of her as if she were a servant. Jael played into his assumptions, offering him buttermilk when he asked for water and covering him with a robe when he stretched out to take a nap on her floor. Since Jael likely knew all about Sisera and his evil deeds, her actions against him make sense.  She drove a tent peg through his head with one blow—nailing his head to the ground.

Deborah and Jael brought a man who attacked and abused the most vulnerable people in their community to justice. Theirs would be a good spirit to have.

The “spirit” of Bathsheba

Bathsheba’s story starts with a horrific rape at the hands of a man she should have been able to trust. He was faithful, anointed, and a man “after God’s own heart.” She had no reason not to assume the best from him. She trusted his reputation, and he betrayed her.

Fortunately, a religious leader stood up for her. The prophet Nathan confronted David, laid out an airtight case and publicly exposed his guilt. David deserved the death penalty for what he did, but the punishment was laid on his son. Despite his repentance and forgiveness, the results of David’s actions continued to hurt Bathsheba and ruin his own life. Evil actions always have long-reaching results.

Bathsheba (who was proven blameless in the sexual assault she suffered) remained married to David and had four more children with him, with her youngest destined to become king. The next time her story continues in Scripture, she advocates for her son’s monarchy.

But her prophecy, recorded by Solomon in Proverbs 31, proves her advocacy went further than her family. The first ten verses echo her earliest experience with David and the court system. She encourages her son, telling him not to ruin his reputation (the way his father had), not to use alcohol to pervert the justice of the afflicted (the way his father had), and to speak up for those who couldn’t speak up for themselves when someone else intended their destruction (the way his father hadn’t). She told him to judge righteously and defend the poor and needy.

Bathsheba was a victim of abuse who became a powerful advocate. Her’s would be a good spirit to have.

The “spirit” of Esther

To make the story of Esther more palatable, it’s couched in terms of a “beauty pageant,” but in reality, it was the harvest of the nation’s virgins as a way for the king to cement power after losing an unpopular war. Esther spent a year preparing with the other women, undergoing cosmetic changes, and learning palace protocol. Her night with the king made her queen, but it was hardly her choice.

Even though thrown into an impossible situation, Esther proved her worthiness time and again. She saved her husband from multiple assassination attempts, and the king rewarded her with property and made her his trusted advisor.

Esther used her new position to protect a politically vulnerable group of people. Her’s would be a good spirit to have.

Avoiding the “spirit” of Ahab

The Ahabs in leadership use prejudicial terms to injure those who dare question their authority. “Jezebel” suggests those who would protest evil done in the name of God are themselves malevolent. No godly woman or man wants to be called a Jezebel when they advocate, protect, and seek justice for the defenseless — but they’ll accept the name-calling if that’s what it takes to end abuse.

For more women to emulate as they follow God’s call, please check out The Women Who Set the Precedents.