### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Yizrᵉʻêʼl**, represented by `{{H3157}}`, means **"God will sow"**. It appears **36 times** across **32 unique verses** in the Bible. This name is applied to two distinct places in Palestine and also to two Israelite individuals, commonly translated as **Jezreel**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
**Jezreel** `{{H3157}}` is prominent as both a city and a valley. The city contained a palace for king Ahab [[1 Kings 21:1]] and was the location where Jezebel met her demise [[2 Kings 9:30]]. It was also the site of Jehu's bloody purge of Ahab's descendants [[2 Kings 10:11]]. The valley of Jezreel served as a strategic gathering place for armies, such as the Midianites and Amalekites [[Judges 6:33]]. The name is also given to Hosea's son, symbolizing God's intent to "avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu" [[Hosea 1:4]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context to the events and locations associated with Jezreel:
* `{{H3158}}` **Yizrᵉʻêʼlîy** (Jezreelite): This term identifies a native of Jizreel. It is used to describe Naboth, the man who owned the vineyard that King Ahab coveted [[1 Kings 21:1]].
* `{{H6010}}` **ʻêmeq** (valley): Meaning "a vale (i.e. broad depression)," this word is frequently paired with Jezreel to describe the large, flat plain that served as a significant site for encampments and battles ([[Judges 6:33]], [[Hosea 1:5]]).
* `{{H348}}` **ʼÎyzebel** (Jezebel): The wife of king Ahab. Her name is inextricably linked to the city of Jezreel, where the prophecy of her gruesome death was fulfilled in the city's portion of land ([[2 Kings 9:10]], [[2 Kings 9:37]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3157}}` is most profoundly expressed through the prophet Hosea, where the name carries a dual meaning of judgment and restoration.
* **Symbol of Divine Judgment:** God commands Hosea to name his son Jezreel as a sign of imminent punishment, stating He will "avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu" and cause the kingdom of Israel to cease [[Hosea 1:4]].
* **Site of Covenant Curse:** The prophecy declares that God will "break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel" [[Hosea 1:5]], using the physical location as the stage for demonstrating His judgment against His unfaithful people.
* **Promise of Future Sowing:** The name's meaning, "God will sow," is powerfully redeemed in a later prophecy. The "day of Jezreel" is foretold as a "great" day when God will gather the children of Judah and Israel together under one head [[Hosea 1:11]].
* **Restored Abundance:** In a depiction of covenant renewal, the earth, corn, wine, and oil will "hear Jezreel," signifying that God's newly "sown" people will once again enjoy the fruitfulness and blessing of a restored relationship with Him [[Hosea 2:22]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3157}}` is far more than a simple place name. It serves as a historical backdrop for some of Israel's most dramatic events and as a powerful prophetic symbol. Through its use, the word **Jezreel** is transformed from a marker of sin, judgment, and scattering into a promise of God's power to gather, restore, and sow His people in blessing.
TRV