2 Kings 9:37

KJV

And the carcase 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the carcase {H5038} of Jezebel {H348} shall be as dung {H1828} upon the face {H6440} of the field {H7704} in the portion {H2506} of Jezreel {H3157}; so that they shall not say {H559}, This is Jezebel {H348}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Izevel's corpse in the field of Yizre'el will be like dung on the ground, unrecognizable as Izevel.'"

Berean Standard Bible

And 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.’”

American Standard Version

and the body 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Kings 9:37 meticulously records the final, utterly ignominious state of Queen Jezebel's body, transforming it into a stark visual of divine judgment. Her remains, left unburied and consumed by dogs, were scattered like refuse across the fields of Jezreel, fulfilling a precise prophecy and ensuring her complete dehumanization and the eradication of any possibility of a dignified memorial or recognition. This verse powerfully underscores the absolute certainty of God's word and the severe consequences of persistent rebellion against Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the grim, conclusive detail in the narrative of Jezebel's demise, which itself is part of Jehu's divinely orchestrated purge of the Omride dynasty and Baal worship in Israel. Immediately preceding this verse, Jehu, having been anointed king and tasked with executing judgment on Ahab's house, arrives in Jezreel. Jezebel, defiant to the end, attempts to assert her queenly dignity, but is thrown from a window by her own eunuchs at Jehu's command, her blood splattering on the wall and horses (2 Kings 9:30-33). Jehu then rides over her body. When he later sends men to bury her, acknowledging her royal status, they find only her skull, feet, and hands, as dogs had already consumed the rest of her flesh, precisely as prophesied by Elijah (2 Kings 9:34-36). Verse 37, therefore, solidifies the fulfillment of this prophecy, emphasizing the complete and irreversible degradation of her remains.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jezebel, a Phoenician princess from Tyre and Sidon, was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians and a priest of Baal. Her marriage to King Ahab of Israel cemented a political alliance but also introduced and aggressively promoted Baal worship within Israel, directly challenging Yahweh's exclusive claim to Israel's devotion. This religious syncretism and idolatry were considered an abomination by God and His prophets. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a proper burial was profoundly significant, ensuring dignity, remembrance, and a peaceful afterlife for the deceased. To be left unburied, or to have one's body consumed by animals, was the ultimate disgrace and a severe curse, signifying utter contempt and the complete erasure of one's identity and legacy. The location, "the portion of Jezreel," is also highly significant, as it was the scene of Jezebel's most infamous crime: the unjust murder of Naboth to seize his vineyard (1 Kings 21).
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme highlighted by 2 Kings 9:37 is the **unwavering certainty of divine judgment**. Jezebel's gruesome end is a direct and chilling fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy against her in [1 Kings 21:23](/1_kings/21-23 "1 Kings 21:23 - Elijah's Prophecy Against Jezebel"), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over human affairs and His commitment to justice. Her fate also powerfully illustrates the **severe consequences of persistent wickedness and idolatry**. Jezebel's life was marked by extreme opposition to God, persecution of His prophets, and the promotion of abhorrent practices. Her ultimate degradation serves as a stark warning against rebellion and the promotion of false gods. Furthermore, the verse underscores the theme of **utter dishonor and degradation**, emphasizing that those who defy God will ultimately be stripped of all status and dignity, their legacy reduced to nothing but contemptible refuse. This complete obliteration of her identity in death mirrors her attempt to obliterate the worship of Yahweh in life.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Carcase (Hebrew, _nevelah'_):** This word (נְבֵלָה) specifically refers to a dead body, often one that is unburied or has died naturally, making it ritually unclean. Its use here emphasizes the physical remains of Jezebel, stripped of any royal dignity or human respect, reduced to mere carrion. It highlights the stark contrast between her former status as queen and her final, degraded state.
* **Dung (Hebrew, _domen'_):** The Hebrew word (דֹּמֶן) literally means "manure," "dung," or "refuse." Its application to Jezebel's body is profoundly contemptuous, signifying the ultimate level of worthlessness and defilement. It implies not merely an unburied body, but one that is actively treated as waste, fit only to fertilize the ground, reflecting the utter abhorrence God had for her actions and her legacy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel;":** This clause describes the physical disposition of Jezebel's body. "Carcase" (נְבֵלָה) emphasizes the reduction of her royal person to mere dead flesh. The comparison to "dung" (דֹּמֶן) is the ultimate insult, signifying her utter defilement and worthlessness in God's eyes. Her body is not merely unburied but scattered like waste across the "field in the portion of Jezreel," the very land where she orchestrated Naboth's murder (see [1 Kings 21](/1_kings/21 "1 Kings 21 - Naboth's Vineyard")). This detail powerfully links her judgment to the scene of her most heinous crime, demonstrating divine poetic justice.
* **"so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.":** This concluding phrase highlights the complete eradication of her identity and memory. The scattering and consumption of her body by dogs meant that no identifiable remains would be left for burial, memorial, or even recognition. This prevented any future veneration, lament, or even the simple acknowledgment of her former existence, ensuring her legacy was one of utter disgrace and oblivion, a testament to the comprehensive nature of God's judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine judgment and degradation. **Symbolism** is paramount, with Jezebel's body becoming "dung" symbolizing the ultimate contempt and worthlessness to which she was reduced, a stark contrast to her former royal splendor. This imagery powerfully conveys the complete stripping away of her dignity and identity. **Irony** is also evident, as the powerful queen, who persecuted God's prophets and sought to establish Baal worship, is ultimately reduced to unidentifiable refuse, her grand schemes coming to naught. The precise fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy (1 Kings 21:23) also functions as a form of **narrative closure** and **divine vindication**, affirming the truthfulness and power of God's word over human defiance. The vivid description of her body as "dung" also utilizes **graphic imagery** to evoke a strong sense of revulsion and the severity of the judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Kings 9:37 stands as a powerful testament to the unwavering justice and sovereignty of God. It demonstrates that no human power, however great or defiant, can ultimately escape the consequences of rebellion against the divine will. Jezebel's fate serves as a chilling reminder that God's word is not empty; what He declares, He will bring to pass, even if it takes years. Her unburied, defiled body symbolizes the spiritual death and utter dishonor that await those who persistently reject God and lead others into idolatry and wickedness. It underscores the biblical principle that while the wicked may prosper for a time, their end is often one of destruction and disgrace, serving as a warning to all who would defy the Almighty.

* [1 Kings 21:23](/1_kings/21-23 "1 Kings 21:23 - Elijah's Prophecy Against Jezebel")
* [Psalm 83:9-10](/psalms/83-9 "Psalm 83:9-10 - God's Judgment on Enemies")
* [Deuteronomy 28:26](/deuteronomy/28-26 "Deuteronomy 28:26 - Curse of Unburied Bodies")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The gruesome end of Jezebel, detailed in 2 Kings 9:37, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It serves as a stark reminder that while God is merciful and patient, His justice is also certain and inescapable. We are called to examine our own lives, ensuring that our allegiances are solely to the one true God and that we are not subtly or overtly promoting "idols" in our own hearts—whether they be power, wealth, self-gratification, or anything that usurps God's rightful place. This narrative urges us to live lives of integrity, righteousness, and humble obedience, understanding that our actions have eternal consequences. It also provides comfort and assurance that even when evil seems to triumph and operate with impunity, God sees, God remembers, and God will ultimately bring all things to account, vindicating His righteous character and His faithful servants.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jezebel's fate challenge our modern assumptions about power, influence, and accountability?**
* **In what ways might "idolatry" manifest in our lives today, and what warnings does Jezebel's story offer us?**
* **How does the precise fulfillment of prophecy in this verse strengthen your faith in the reliability of God's Word?**
* **What practical steps can we take to ensure our lives are aligned with God's justice and righteousness, rather than defying it?**

### FAQ
**Why was it so important that Jezebel's body was left unburied and unrecognizable?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a proper burial was considered essential for dignity, honor, and remembrance. To be left unburied, or to have one's body consumed by animals and scattered, was the ultimate curse and disgrace. It signified complete dishonor, the stripping away of all status, and the eradication of one's identity and legacy. For Jezebel, a powerful queen who aggressively promoted Baal worship and persecuted God's prophets, this ignominious end was a deliberate act of divine judgment. It ensured that no memorial could be erected, no cult could arise around her, and her very memory would be reduced to nothing but contemptible refuse, precisely fulfilling Elijah's prophecy in [1 Kings 21:23](/1_kings/21-23 "1 Kings 21:23 - Elijah's Prophecy Against Jezebel") and demonstrating the absolute nature of God's justice against her profound wickedness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Kings 9:37 vividly portrays the severe consequences of rejecting God's authority and embracing idolatry, its Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the ultimate triumph of God's justice and the radical reversal of human degradation through Christ. Jezebel's body became "dung," a symbol of utter defilement and worthlessness. In stark contrast, Jesus, though "made sin for us" (as described in [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Made Sin for Us")), bore the full weight of humanity's sin and the curse of the Law (as referenced in [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")), experiencing the ultimate degradation on the cross. Yet, His body did not see decay (as prophesied in [Psalm 16:10](/psalms/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - Christ's Resurrection Prophecy") and fulfilled in [Acts 2:27](/acts/2-27 "Acts 2:27 - Peter's Sermon on Resurrection")), but was gloriously raised from the dead, conquering death and disgrace. Where Jezebel's identity was erased in ignominy, Christ's identity as the Son of God was eternally vindicated through His resurrection, offering hope and new life to all who identify with Him (as seen in [Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life in Christ")). Thus, the judgment poured out on Jezebel foreshadows the righteous judgment that will ultimately be meted out to all unrepentant wickedness, while simultaneously highlighting the profound grace by which believers are spared that judgment through the perfect sacrifice and resurrection of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), who took away the sin of the world.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 8:2

And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.

Jeremiah 16:4

They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; [but] they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

Psalms 83:10

[Which] perished at Endor: they became [as] dung for the earth.

Jeremiah 22:19

He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 9:22

Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather [them].

Jeremiah 36:20

¶ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.

Ecclesiastes 6:3

If a man beget an hundred [children], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also [that] he have no burial; I say, [that] an untimely birth [is] better than he.