The Star of David Shines for the Whole World
The Jewish Star of David is one of the most recognized symbols in history. While most people only associate it with Judaism, it also has meaning for other cultures and peoples. In a sense, it “shines” on us all. It could be thought of as an earthly symbol of God’s heavenly stars.
The Star of David was originally a secret symbol used by ancient stargazing priests, adopted by the famous Israeli Kings David and Solomon, and eventually the Hebrew people. It is on the national flag of Israel and it decorates synagogues, pictures and designs in every area of Jewish life. It is the premier symbol of Judaism and the State of Israel.
As a point of interest, there are actually two stars associated with the Jewish faith, the hexagram (six-pointed star) and the pentagram (five-pointed star). The pentagram star is known in Judaism as the Seal of Solomon. While this star has a strong link to the Jewish stream of mysticism known as Kabbalah and is said to have magical characteristics, it is not “the” Star for the Jews. The most revered star in Judaism is of course the Star of David, or Jewish Star.
The Star of David is known by several names – the Jewish Star, the Star of David, and the Magen David. An interesting historical side note... Some early ideas surmised that the name Magen David meant King David was born in Magenta, Italy which was the reason the Jews referred to the star as Magen David! Of course, we know from reading the Bible that King David was born in Israel and that the Hebrew word “magen” means “shield.” Therefore, Magen David is translated as “Shield of David.”
While it is without argument that this geometrical six-pointed Star of David is most often associated with Judaism, it also has special meaning in other cultures, such as Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. In Eastern religions, the six-pointed star is generally understood to be two triangles - one pointed up and the other down, intertwined in an embrace. In Sanskrit, the two triangles are referred to as 'Om' and the 'Hrim', and are believed to symbolize man's position between the earth and the heavens.
Perhaps surprisingly, many Christians embrace the Star of David. This is because the man who Christians proclaim as the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth (his Hebrew name is Yeshua), was a Jew. Jesus was born, grew up, died and was resurrected as a Jew. The genealogy of Jesus shows that he was descended from the famous Jewish King David, so it is natural to think about the Star of David being associated with Jesus.
Also, some Christian groups associate the six-pointed Jewish Star of David with the birth of Jesus, imagining it as a symbol of the star that the Magi (wise men) followed from the East to Bethlehem, where they found the child Jesus and presented him with gifts.
In fact, the Star of David is part of the Jerusalem Messianic Seal that was found on Mount Zion and thought to date to the first or second century CE. This Messianic seal combines the menorah, the Star of David, and the fish. Some people believe that the menorah represents God, the Star of David represents Jesus (as the son of David), and the fish (a well-known early Christian symbol) represents man. Therefore, Jesus - symbolized by the Jewish Star of David - represents man’s connection to God.
Many Christians have a great love for Israel and the Jewish people, so it is only natural that they would also cherish the symbol of the Star of David.
The Jewish Star of David is unique among symbols. As a beloved symbol on earth, it is also like the heavenly stars shining in the sky, belonging to no one... and to everyone.
