3157. Yizreel
Lexical Summary
Yizreel: Jezreel

Original Word: יִזְרְעֵאל
Part of Speech: proper name, of a location; proper name, masculine a.
Transliteration: Yizr`e'l
Pronunciation: yiz-reh-EL
Phonetic Spelling: (yiz-reh-ale')
KJV: Jezreel
NASB: Jezreel
Word Origin: [from H2232 (זָרַע - sow) and H410 (אֵל - God)]

1. God will sow
2. Jizreel, the name of two places in Israel and of two Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jezreel

From zara' and 'el; God will sow; Jizreel, the name of two places in Palestine and of two Israelites -- Jezreel.

see HEBREW zara'

see HEBREW 'el

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from zara and el
Definition
"God sows," two Isr., also two cities in Isr., also a valley in N. Isr.
NASB Translation
Jezreel (36).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
יִזְרְעֶאל 1. proper name, of a location (God soweth; Sabean אלדֿרא MordtZMG 1879, 489; see LagBN 131) — ׳י Joshua 15:56; 2 Samuel 2:9 +; יִזְרְעֶ֑אל 1 Samuel 25:43; Joshua 17:16 +; יִזְרְעֶ֫אלָה Joshua 19:18 6t.:

a. city in the Negeb of Judah Joshua 15:56; 1 Samuel 25:43 (home of Ahinoam, one of David's wives), site unknown; compare proper name, masculine 1 Chronicles 4:3.

b. city in Issachar Joshua 19:18 on northwest spur of Mt. Gilboa 2 Samuel 4:4 (compare 1 Samuel 31:1,8) 1 Kings 4:12 (compare 1 Samuel 31:10,12), modern Zer`în (RobBR ii. 318 ff. BdPal 244), close to scene of great battle with Philistines 1 Samuel 29:1 (׳בְּעַיִן אשׁר בְיִז, compare RobBR ii. 323) 1 Samuel 29:11; subject to Ishbosheth 2 Samuel 2:9 (yet see below), residence of Ahab and Jehoram of Israel 1 Kings 18:45,46; 1 Kings 21:1 (Naboth) 2 Kings 8:29 (twice in verse) = 2Chronicles 22:6 (twice in verse), 2 Kings 9:15 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 9:16,17,30; 2 Kings 10:11 compare דְּמֵי ׳יִז Hosea 1:4, and symbolical name of Hosea's son Hosea 1:4 (compare Che); — in 2 Kings 10:1 for ׳שָׂרֵי יִז read שָׂרֵי שֹׁמְרוֺן so ᵐ5. Used by Hosea as representing Israel, with play on etymology, Hosea 2:24 (compare וּזְרַעְתִּיהָ לִּי בָּאָרֶץ Hosea 2:25), compare also ׳גָּדוֺל יוֺם יִז Hosea 1:2. Territory immediately about the city is ׳חֵלֶק יִז 2 Kings 9:10,36,37; compare ׳חֵל יִז 1 Kings 21:23 (read probably חלק, see Th Klo after ᵑ6 ᵑ9; the adjacent plain is ׳עֵמֶק יִז (compare Di Joshua 17:16 BdPal 229) Joshua 17:16; Judges 6:33; Hosea 1:5 (perhaps also = ׳יִז 2 Samuel 2:9 above, "" Gilead, Ephraim, Benjamin, etc.)

2. proper name, masculine a. Hosea's son Hosea 1:4, compare 1b above

b. Judahite name 1 Chronicles 4:3, compare 1a above

Topical Lexicon
Geographical Setting and Scope

Jezreel designates both a city and the broad fertile plain stretching roughly from Mount Carmel and the Kishon River in the west to Mount Gilboa in the east. The plain forms the northern corridor between Galilee and Samaria and serves as a strategic military route and breadbasket of Israel (Judges 6:33). A smaller village of the same name lay in the hill-country of Judah (Joshua 15:56), but the dominant biblical focus is the northern site and its surrounding valley.

Early Allocation to the Tribes

• Issachar: “Their territory included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem…” (Joshua 19:18).
• Judah: A secondary Jezreel is listed among the southern hill towns (Joshua 15:56).

The dual listing testifies to Israel’s tendency to reuse meaningful names and hints at the theological theme of ‘sowing’—God plants His people in different parts of the land.

Period of the Judges

The valley first gains narrative prominence when the Midianite coalition settles there before Gideon’s deliverance: “All the Midianites…camped in the Valley of Jezreel” (Judges 6:33). The scene underscores the valley as an arena where God demonstrates His power despite Israel’s weakness (Judges 7).

Royal Residence and National Stage

The northern city became a royal retreat for the kings of Israel after Omri moved the capital to Samaria. Key events cluster here:

1. Elijah outruns Ahab to Jezreel following the Carmel confrontation (1 Kings 18:45-46).
2. Naboth’s vineyard, abutting Ahab’s palace at Jezreel, triggers the prophetic judgment on the Omride house (1 Kings 21:1-24).
3. Jehu drives furiously to Jezreel, slays Joram, executes Jezebel, and begins purging Ahab’s dynasty (2 Kings 9:15-37).
4. The seventy sons of Ahab are executed and their heads stacked “at the entrance of the gate of Jezreel” (2 Kings 10:7-11).

These accounts turn the city into a symbol of covenant accountability: the place where sowing in wickedness reaps harvests of judgment.

Personal Connections

• Ahinoam “of Jezreel” becomes David’s wife (1 Samuel 25:43; 2 Samuel 3:2).
• Naboth the Jezreelite models covenant loyalty at the cost of his life (1 Kings 21:3).

The name thus attaches to both humble faithfulness and royal corruption, illustrating the impartiality of divine standards.

Prophetic Significance in Hosea

Hosea is commanded, “Name him Jezreel, for in a little while I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu” (Hosea 1:4). The name recurs twice more (Hosea 1:5, 11), presenting a triple layer of meaning:

1. Retribution—punishing Jehu’s excesses.
2. Breaking military might—“I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
3. Restoration—“Great will be the day of Jezreel” (Hosea 1:11), when scattered Israel is resown in mercy.

The prophet turns the geographic term into a theological cipher for both scattering and regathering, judgment and grace.

Typological and Theological Themes

Sowing and Reaping: The root zrʿ (“to sow”) in the name Jezreel anchors the consistent biblical principle that God repays according to deeds—seen vividly in Ahab, Jezebel, and Jehu.

Covenant Fidelity: Naboth’s death and Jehu’s purge reveal God’s jealous guardianship of land inheritance and royal responsibility.

Eschatological Hope: Hosea’s “great day of Jezreel” foreshadows the ultimate re-sowing of Israel under one head, a preview of Messianic reunion (cf. Romans 9:25-26).

Occurrences Summary

Approximately thirty-six Old Testament appearances divide as follows:
• Historical narrative (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles) – 29.
• Prophetic (Hosea) – 4.
• Administrative listing (1 Kings 4:12) – 1.
• Analogical reference (2 Kings 15:29; 2 Kings 17:6; Hosea 2:22 differ in form and are not counted here).

The concentration in Kings emphasizes Jezreel’s role in the downfall of the northern monarchy.

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

1. Leadership Accountability: Ahab and Jehu demonstrate that even divinely authorized rulers answer to a higher King.
2. Integrity Under Pressure: Naboth’s refusal to compromise his inheritance encourages believers to prize God’s commandments over convenience.
3. Hope Beyond Judgment: Hosea’s vision assures the scattered people of God that He can replant what He has uprooted, turning fields of blood into fields of blessing.
4. Strategic Obedience: Gideon’s victory in the Valley of Jezreel reminds the Church that God often chooses improbable means and places to manifest His strength.

Awaiting Final Fulfillment

Because the valley lies adjacent to Megiddo, many students connect Jezreel with the future campaign of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). Whether or not that specific geography is intended, the biblical record of Jezreel guarantees that the God who once repaid the blood of Jezreel will ultimately vindicate His name and people on a still-greater day of sowing and harvest.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּיִזְרְעֶ֑אל בְּיִזְרְעֶ֔אל בְּיִזְרְעֶ֖אל בְּיִזְרְעֶ֗אל בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ בְיִזְרְעֶ֗אל בִיְזְרְעֶ֗אל ביזרעאל ביזרעאל׃ וְיִזְרְעֶ֥אל ויזרעאל יִזְרְעֶ֑אל יִזְרְעֶ֑אלָה יִזְרְעֶ֔אל יִזְרְעֶ֔אלָה יִזְרְעֶ֖אל יִזְרְעֶ֥אל יִזְרְעֶ֥אלָה יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה׃ יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ יִזְרְעֶאל֙ יזרעאל יזרעאל׃ יזרעאלה יזרעאלה׃ לְיִזְרְעֶ֗אל ליזרעאל מִֽיִּזְרְעֶ֑אל מִֽיִּזְרְעֶ֗אל מיזרעאל bə·yiz·rə·‘el ḇə·yiz·rə·‘el bəyizrə‘el ḇəyizrə‘el beyizreEl ḇiy·zə·rə·‘el ḇiyzərə‘el lə·yiz·rə·‘el ləyizrə‘el leyizreEl mî·yiz·rə·‘el mîyizrə‘el miyizreEl veyizreEl viyzereEl wə·yiz·rə·‘el wəyizrə‘el yiz·rə·‘e·lāh yiz·rə·‘el yizrə‘el yizrə‘elāh yizreEl yizreElah
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Joshua 15:56
HEB: וְיִזְרְעֶ֥אל וְיָקְדְעָ֖ם וְזָנֽוֹחַ׃
NAS: and Jezreel and Jokdeam and Zanoah,
KJV: And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
INT: and Jezreel and Jokdeam and Zanoah

Joshua 17:16
HEB: וְלַֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵ֥מֶק יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃
NAS: are in the valley of Jezreel.
KJV: and [they] who [are] of the valley of Jezreel.
INT: who the valley of Jezreel

Joshua 19:18
HEB: וַיְהִ֖י גְּבוּלָ֑ם יִזְרְעֶ֥אלָה וְהַכְּסוּלֹ֖ת וְשׁוּנֵֽם׃
NAS: Their territory was to Jezreel and [included] Chesulloth
KJV: And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth,
INT: become their territory Jezreel and Chesulloth and Shunem

Judges 6:33
HEB: וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּעֵ֥מֶק יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃
NAS: and camped in the valley of Jezreel.
KJV: and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
INT: and camped the valley of Jezreel

1 Samuel 25:43
HEB: לָקַ֥ח דָּוִ֖ד מִֽיִּזְרְעֶ֑אל וַתִּהְיֶ֛יןָ גַּֽם־
NAS: Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both
KJV: Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both
INT: taken David of Jezreel became were also

1 Samuel 29:1
HEB: בַּעַ֖יִן אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃
NAS: by the spring which is in Jezreel.
KJV: by a fountain which [is] in Jezreel.
INT: A fountain which Jezreel

1 Samuel 29:11
HEB: וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים עָל֥וּ יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ ס
NAS: went up to Jezreel.
KJV: went up to Jezreel.
INT: and the Philistines went to Jezreel

2 Samuel 2:9
HEB: הָאֲשׁוּרִ֖י וְאֶֽל־ יִזְרְעֶ֑אל וְעַל־ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙
NAS: over Jezreel, over
KJV: and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim,
INT: the Ashurites over Jezreel over Ephraim

2 Samuel 4:4
HEB: שָׁא֨וּל וִיהֽוֹנָתָ֜ן מִֽיִּזְרְעֶ֗אל וַתִּשָּׂאֵ֤הוּ אֹֽמַנְתּוֹ֙
NAS: came from Jezreel, and his nurse
KJV: and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse
INT: of Saul and Jonathan Jezreel took and his nurse

1 Kings 4:12
HEB: צָרְתַ֜נָה מִתַּ֣חַת לְיִזְרְעֶ֗אל מִבֵּ֤ית שְׁאָן֙
NAS: below Jezreel, from Beth-shean
KJV: Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean
INT: Zarethan Thahash Jezreel Beth-shean far

1 Kings 18:45
HEB: אַחְאָ֖ב וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה׃
NAS: rode and went to Jezreel.
KJV: rode, and went to Jezreel.
INT: and Ahab and went to Jezreel

1 Kings 18:46
HEB: עַד־ בֹּאֲכָ֖ה יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה׃
NAS: and outran Ahab to Jezreel.
KJV: Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
INT: against to the entrance to Jezreel

1 Kings 21:1
HEB: הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיִזְרְעֶ֑אל אֵ֚צֶל הֵיכַ֣ל
NAS: which [was] in Jezreel beside
KJV: had a vineyard, which [was] in Jezreel, hard by
INT: the Jezreelite which Jezreel beside the palace

1 Kings 21:23
HEB: אִיזֶ֖בֶל בְּחֵ֥ל יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃
NAS: Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.'
KJV: Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
INT: Jezebel able of Jezreel

2 Kings 8:29
HEB: הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְהִתְרַפֵּ֣א בְיִזְרְעֶ֗אל מִן־ הַמַּכִּים֙
NAS: to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds
KJV: to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds
INT: King to be healed Jezreel at of the wounds

2 Kings 8:29
HEB: בֶּן־ אַחְאָ֛ב בְּיִזְרְעֶ֖אל כִּֽי־ חֹלֶ֥ה
NAS: of Ahab in Jezreel because
KJV: of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
INT: the son of Ahab Jezreel because was sick

2 Kings 9:10
HEB: הַכְּלָבִ֛ים בְּחֵ֥לֶק יִזְרְעֶ֖אל וְאֵ֣ין קֹבֵ֑ר
NAS: in the territory of Jezreel, and none
KJV: in the portion of Jezreel, and [there shall be] none to bury
INT: the dogs the territory of Jezreel and none shall bury

2 Kings 9:15
HEB: הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְהִתְרַפֵּ֣א בִיְזְרְעֶ֗אל מִן־ הַמַּכִּים֙
NAS: had returned to Jezreel to be healed
KJV: to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds
INT: King to be healed to Jezreel at of the wounds

2 Kings 9:15
HEB: (לְהַגִּ֥יד ק) בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃
NAS: to go tell [it] in Jezreel.
KJV: to go to tell [it] in Jezreel.
INT: to go bewray Jezreel

2 Kings 9:16
HEB: יֵהוּא֙ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ יִזְרְעֶ֔אלָה כִּ֥י יוֹרָ֖ם
NAS: and went to Jezreel, for Joram
KJV: and went to Jezreel; for Joram
INT: Jehu and went to Jezreel for Joram

2 Kings 9:17
HEB: עַֽל־ הַמִּגְדָּ֜ל בְּיִזְרְעֶ֗אל וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־
NAS: on the tower in Jezreel and he saw
KJV: on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied
INT: on the tower Jezreel saw the company

2 Kings 9:30
HEB: וַיָּב֥וֹא יֵה֖וּא יִזְרְעֶ֑אלָה וְאִיזֶ֣בֶל שָׁמְעָ֗ה
NAS: came to Jezreel, Jezebel
KJV: was come to Jezreel, Jezebel
INT: came Jehu to Jezreel Jezebel heard

2 Kings 9:36
HEB: לֵאמֹ֑ר בְּחֵ֣לֶק יִזְרְעֶ֔אל יֹאכְל֥וּ הַכְּלָבִ֖ים
NAS: In the property of Jezreel the dogs
KJV: In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs
INT: saying the property of Jezreel shall eat the dogs

2 Kings 9:37
HEB: הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה בְּחֵ֣לֶק יִזְרְעֶ֑אל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־
NAS: in the property of Jezreel, so
KJV: in the portion of Jezreel; [so] that they shall not say,
INT: of the field the property of Jezreel so cannot

2 Kings 10:1
HEB: אֶל־ שָׂרֵ֤י יִזְרְעֶאל֙ הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים וְאֶל־
NAS: to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders,
KJV: unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders,
INT: to the rulers of Jezreel the elders and to

36 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3157
36 Occurrences


bə·yiz·rə·‘el — 7 Occ.
lə·yiz·rə·‘el — 1 Occ.
mî·yiz·rə·‘el — 2 Occ.
wə·yiz·rə·‘el — 3 Occ.
ḇiy·zə·rə·‘el — 1 Occ.
yiz·rə·‘el — 15 Occ.
yiz·rə·‘e·lāh — 7 Occ.

3156
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