Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

REVELATION 2:20KJV
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Revelation 2:20 (KJV)

What does Revelation 2:20 mean?

Revelation 2:20 describes how Jesus, speaking through John, rebukes the church in Thyatira for allowing a woman called Jezebel, who claims to be a prophetess, to mislead believers into sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. The verse highlights that the church is being held responsible for tolerating this harmful influence within their community.

In this passage, Jesus addresses the church in Thyatira as part of a series of messages to different churches in Asia Minor. The reference to "Jezebel" likely points to a real woman in the church whose actions resemble those of the infamous queen Jezebel from Israel’s history, known for leading people into idolatry and immorality. The verse calls out not just the false teaching, but also the church's failure to confront or stop it.

The Greek behind Revelation 2:20

  • "συγχωρεῖς" (sufferest, G1439; synchōreis): This word means to allow or tolerate. The Greek here puts emphasis on the church’s active responsibility in permitting Jezebel’s actions, not just passively ignoring them.
  • "πλανᾷ" (seduce, G4105; planaō): This verb means to lead astray or deceive. The Greek suggests ongoing misleading, not just a one-time event, highlighting the persistent danger Jezebel poses.
  • "πορνεῦσαι" (fornication, G4203; porneusai): This word refers to sexual immorality, often used in both literal and metaphorical senses in the New Testament. Here, it likely includes both physical acts and spiritual unfaithfulness.
  • "εἰδωλόθυτα" (idols, G1494; eidōlothyta): This term means things sacrificed to idols. The Greek points to participation in pagan rituals, which was a serious concern for early Christians living in a culture full of idol worship.

Why Revelation 2:20 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jesus holds not only false teachers accountable, but also the wider church community for tolerating harmful influences.
  • The mention of Jezebel connects the church’s situation to Old Testament history, showing how old patterns of unfaithfulness can repeat in new forms.
  • Revelation 2:20 sets up the rest of the message to Thyatira, where Jesus explains the consequences of allowing such teaching and urges the church to take action.

Where else these words appear

“prophetess” Greek G4398 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

“fornication” Greek G4203 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
  • Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
  • Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

“idols” Greek G1494 · used in 10 verses

  • Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
  • 1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

“sufferest” Greek G1439 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
  • Acts 14:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
  • Acts 27:32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.