Original Word: יִזְרְעֵאלִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Yizr`e'liy
Pronunciation: yiz-reh-ay-LEE
Phonetic Spelling: (yiz-reh-ay-lee')
KJV: Jezreelite
NASB: Jezreelite
Word Origin: [patronymically from H3157 (יִזרְעֵאל - Jezreel)]

1. a Jizreelite or native of Jizreel

Jezreelite

Patronymically from Yizr'e'l; a Jizreelite or native of Jizreel -- Jezreelite.

see HEBREW Yizr'e'l

Word Origin
from Yizreel
Definition
an inhab. of Jezreel
NASB Translation
Jezreelite (8).

יִזְרְעֵאלִי masculine, יִזְרְעֵאלִית

feminine, adjective, of a people 1. masculine from יִזְרְעֶאל 1b; always ׳נָבוֺת הַיִּז 1 Kings 21:1,4,6,7,15,16; 2 Kings 9:21,25.

2. feminine from יִזְרְעֶאל 1a; always אֲחִינֹעַם ׳הַיִּז a wife of David; ending יִ֯ת 1 Samuel 30:5; 2 Samuel 2:2; 1 Chronicles 3:1; ending תִ֯ — 1 Samuel 27:3; 2 Samuel 3:2 (= 1 Chronicles 3:1).

Geographical Setting

“Jezreelite” identifies an inhabitant of the city or plain of Jezreel, a fertile stretch between Mount Carmel and the Jordan Valley. The location’s agricultural richness explains why a vineyard there was coveted by a king (1 Kings 21:1). Jezreel lay near the main north-south road through the Northern Kingdom, making events that occurred there highly visible to Israel and, later, to Judah.

Naboth the Jezreelite: Integrity Tested

Every occurrence of יִזרְעֵאלִי attaches to Naboth, a land-owner whose steadfast refusal to sell or trade “the inheritance of my fathers” (1 Kings 21:3) anchors the narrative. Naboth’s stance rests on Leviticus 25:23 and Numbers 36:7, which forbid permanent alienation of ancestral land. His obedience contrasts sharply with the royal covetousness of Ahab and the ruthless scheming of Jezebel.

Royal Abuse and False Witness

Ahab’s sulking (1 Kings 21:4) and Jezebel’s cynical question, “Do you now reign over Israel?” (1 Kings 21:7) expose the heart behind the crime. Jezebel’s forged letters, misuse of the elders, and staged blasphemy trial violate both the ninth commandment and the judicial safeguards of Deuteronomy 19:15–21. The repeated title “Naboth the Jezreelite” underscores that a specific, known man—not an anonymous peasant—was murdered under color of law.

Prophetic Indictment

Elijah is sent to confront the king in Naboth’s seized vineyard (1 Kings 21:17–19). The prophecy of dogs licking Ahab’s blood and Jezebel’s gruesome death ties divine justice directly to the injustice done a Jezreelite. Ahab’s temporary repentance delays, but does not cancel, the sentence (1 Kings 21:27–29).

Jehu and the Fulfillment of Judgment

Years later, Jehu’s rebellion brings the prophecy to completion. At the very plot of Naboth the Jezreelite (2 Kings 9:21) Jehu mortally wounds Joram (Jehoram). He then orders Bidkar: “Pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite, for ‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will repay you on this plot of ground’” (2 Kings 9:25–26). The repetition of the demonym seals the link between crime and consequence.

Theological Themes

• Covenant land stewardship: Naboth models fidelity to God over royal pressure.
• The sanctity of life and law: False testimony leading to execution calls forth divine wrath.
• Inevitable justice: Decades may pass, but the Lord’s word proves true “on this very plot.”
• Typology of the Righteous Sufferer: An innocent vineyard owner condemned by corrupt rulers foreshadows the greater injustice faced by Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:59–60), assuring believers that God vindicates His own.

Ministry Application

1. Uphold integrity despite intimidation; obedience may cost dearly but never escapes the Lord’s notice.
2. Guard against covetousness and misuse of authority; Ahab’s palace could not shield him from judgment.
3. Trust God’s timing; apparent triumph of evil is temporary when “the Judge is standing at the door” (James 5:9).
4. Defend the vulnerable; elders who betrayed Naboth failed their mandate, whereas Elijah and Jehu illustrate courageous advocacy.

The eight appearances of יִזרְעֵאלִי therefore highlight a single man whose faithfulness, suffering, and eventual vindication illuminate enduring principles of divine justice and covenant faithfulness.

הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֑י הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔י הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖י הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֗י הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֜י הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽי׃ היזרעאלי היזרעאלי׃ haiyizreeLi hay·yiz·rə·‘ê·lî hayyizrə‘êlîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts