יִזְרְעֵאלִי (yiz.re.e.li)
yiz.re.e.li
Jezreel
N:N--LGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--LG
Word Overview
The word yizreeli is a Hebrew adjective meaning "of Jezreel" or "Jezreelite." It derives from the city name Jezreel, which translates to "God sows," pointing to the fertile valley where this town stood in northern Israel. The term functions primarily as a demonym, identifying people who lived in or originated from that specific region.
Scripture uses this descriptor most frequently in the historical accounts of the divided monarchy, particularly within 1 Kings and 2 Kings. It appears to distinguish individuals by their geographic origin rather than their tribe or profession. For instance, it identifies soldiers or officials associated with the Jezreel district during the reigns of kings like Ahab and Jehu.
While the city itself carries significant theological weight due to its association with prophetic judgment in Hosea 1:4, this specific adjective remains strictly geographical. It serves as a simple marker of place in the narrative, grounding the political and military events of the era in a tangible location without adding abstract metaphorical meaning in these contexts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Jezreel means "God sows." While this adjective simply identifies people or places from that northern valley, it reminds us that God is attentive to the details of our origins and our daily lives. In the biblical narrative, these geographic markers ground history in real soil, showing that faithfulness matters in ordinary settings as much as in grand miracles.
When we read about Ahinoam the Jezreelitess or Naboth the Jezreelite, we see individuals whose identities were tied to their land and community. This word invites us to consider how our own backgrounds shape our stories. God knows where we come from and uses those specific places to weave His purposes into our lives.
Whether you are navigating family history or seeking stability in a new season, remember that your origin is known to God. He sows seeds of grace in every context, turning ordinary moments into part of a larger, hopeful story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Jezreelite8×
- the/ Jezreelite [woman]5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/יִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית2×
- הַ/יִּזְרְעֵאלִֽי\׃2×
- הַ/יִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖י2×
- הַ/יִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔ית2×
- הַ/יִּזְרְעֵאלִֽת\׃1×
- הַ/יִּזְרְעֵאלִ֜י1×
- הַ/יִּזְרְעֵאלִ֗י1×
- הַ/יִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔י1×
- הַ/יִּזְרְעֵאלִ֑י1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 27:3
David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.
This verse identifies Ahinoam as a Jezreelitess, anchoring her identity to her hometown while she lives in exile with David.
-
I Kings 21:1
After these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
Naboth is called the Jezreelite to specify his legal claim to a vineyard within the city limits, highlighting the importance of ancestral land.
-
II Kings 9:25
Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this burden on him:
Jehu references Naboth the Jezreelite's field to recall God's judgment on Ahab, linking the specific location to prophetic fulfillment.