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 2:20KJVWhat 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.