Revelation 2:20 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Lord rebukes Thyatira for tolerating a woman called Jezebel, who claims to prophesy yet seduces His servants into immorality and idolatry.
What Does Revelation 2:20 Mean?
The correction is grave. The church tolerated a figure the Lord calls "Jezebel," after the queen of Israel who led God's people into idol worship. This woman claimed the authority of a prophetess but used it to seduce Christ's servants into immorality and idol-feasts, the same compromises seen at Pergamos.
A growing, loving church can still harbor a destructive influence and fail to confront it. The danger here wore the dress of inspired teaching, which made it harder to resist. The Lord holds the church responsible not only for what it does but for what it permits. Love that will not name and resist corruption is incomplete. Faithfulness requires the courage to say no, even to a voice claiming heaven's sanction.
Revelation 2:20 in the Original Language
prophetis (προφῆτις), 'prophetess' -- a woman who claims to speak by divine inspiration; here the claim is false.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 2:20
What does Revelation 2:20 mean?
The Lord rebukes Thyatira for tolerating a woman called Jezebel, who claims to prophesy yet seduces His servants into immorality and idolatry.